Fire in Amsterdam student flat possibly targeted at rainbow flags

A large fire, which broke out on Friday in a student flat on the Krelis Louwenstraat in Amsterdam-West, was probably set on purpose. The arsonists were targeting rainbow flags, the police suspect.

The fire raged early Friday morning on the eighth floor of the flat and could be extinguished in an hour. Initial investigations indicate that arson attempts were made in several places in the building. According to the police, there had already been incidents in and around the building where rainbow flags had been targeted.

Four residents were injured in the fire. They were taken to hospital. Four others had to be rescued from the balcony by the fire brigade using a ladder truck. The building has now been fully evacuated and the other residents have been given shelter in the neighbourhood.

The investigation into the possibly LGBTQ+-related arson is still ongoing. The police are looking for people who saw or heard something in the vicinity of the student flat.