Girl's Arson at Tedi Store Causes Millions in Damages

Hannover - A shocking incident unfolded on January 2, 2023, when a Tedi store in Hannover was engulfed in flames, resulting in extensive damage estimated at three million euros. As customers fled the scene, the fire rapidly consumed the retail outlet, leaving it in ruins. Recent investigations have revealed that the individual responsible for this devastating act was a ten-year-old girl.

For nearly two years, authorities sought to identify the young arsonist, eventually deciding to release a still image from surveillance footage captured inside the store. This footage shows the girl igniting merchandise on a shelf, which led to the rapid spread of fire just moments later. After the incident, she fled the scene accompanied by an adult woman and two other minors.

The investigation involved securing evidence, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing data from mobile phone towers around the area. Initially, a family from Moldova, known for prior thefts, became suspects due to their resemblance to the individuals captured in the video. Charges were considered against a daughter of the family, who was 14 at the time, for serious arson, but doubts about her involvement led to a dead end.

In a last-ditch effort to gather information, police made the decision to publicize images of the suspects on November 26, 2024. Remarkably, a viewer recognized the girl from Hannover, who had been visiting relatives during the incident, and provided crucial information to the authorities. It was later confirmed that the child was indeed the suspected arsonist. This same girl is also suspected of starting a fire at a drugstore in Hannover just two weeks prior to the Tedi store incident.

Despite the grave nature of her actions, the current legal framework does not permit prosecution due to her age. The public prosecutor's office has dropped the criminal proceedings against the now twelve-year-old. However, civil liability is a different matter. According to the German Civil Code, children aged seven and older can be held accountable for damages they intentionally cause if they possess the mental capacity to understand the wrongdoing of their acts.

The aftermath of the fire has left the Tedi store in a state of complete destruction and raised questions about liability for the significant damages incurred. The community is left to grapple with the implications of such a young individual being involved in such a serious crime.