Police examine online claim after fire at Rheinmetall site

Police suspect deliberate arson at a Rheinmetall construction site near Kassel-Calden airport in Germany.

Three construction vehicles caught fire around 3:15 a.m.

on Friday, and nearby machinery was also damaged.

Police are examining an online claim of responsibility posted on a platform classified by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency as left-wing extremist.

The site is intended for Rheinmetall’s planned logistics, training and drone-testing centre.

Rheinmetall and the state of Hesse announced investments of more than 260 million euros at the site in August.

The State Security unit is leading the investigation and continues to seek witnesses; the people behind the fire and their motive remain unclear.