Five Injured In Arson Blaze At High-Rise Building In Southwestern Austria

Nov. 16, 2004
An arsonist set five fires in a high-rise building in this southwestern Austrian city early Tuesday, forcing authorities to evacuate 40 people, officials said.
KLAGENFURT, Austria (AP) -- An arsonist set five fires in a high-rise building in this southwestern Austrian city early Tuesday, forcing authorities to evacuate 40 people, officials said.

Five people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, and several others were treated at the scene for asthma attacks and light shock, authorities said.

They said an initial investigation suggested all five fires were set by the same person, although investigators were still working to determine the motive for the attack.

Officials said the blazes began in the basement of the building in Klagenfurt, capital of the province of Carinthia, and rapidly spread to several upper floors.

About 120 firefighters and 60 rescue workers were called to the scene.

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