Burning hunting stands: Police officer and hobby hunter arrested

Time and again, hunting stands have been set on fire in the German state of Lower Saxony. Now police have identified a suspect — a former hobby hunter.

Since 2017, a total of around 30 hunting stands and ladder stands have been destroyed or burned down in the Celle district (Lower Saxony). The epicentre of the vandalism was Nienhagen, where an unusually large number of attacks occurred in quick succession in autumn 2019.

„The perpetrator must be very familiar with the hunting grounds and must have carefully scouted everything out in advance”, said an affected hunting leaseholder, in whose territory two hunting stands were burned down and five others destroyed. Even during summer months, hunting stands caught fire undetected, and neither farmers nor hunters — who were out in the fields and forests at all hours of the day and night — managed to catch the arsonist in the act. Wildlife cameras that could have identified the perpetrator or perpetrators were also deliberately stolen. It is further suspected that the fires were set using accelerants and slowly burning candles, causing the hunting stands to ignite not immediately but with a time delay, according to a press release from a German hunting portal.

Suspected perpetrator in the burning hunting stands case apprehended

The Celle police arrested a 54-year-old suspect on January 16 in connection with a burning straw rick in Nienhagen. The man's home and other properties were subsequently searched, during which incriminating evidence was secured. Based on the evidence, the arrested individual is believed to be responsible not only for setting the straw bales on fire but also for six arson attacks on raised hunting blinds in the surrounding hunting grounds. The property damage is estimated at €50,000.

The alleged perpetrator is therefore under strong suspicion of arson in seven cases and has been remanded in custody due to the risk of reoffending, according to Stefanie Vogler, spokesperson for the Celle public prosecutor's office.

Suspect said to be a former hobby hunter

The suspect is reported to be a former police officer and hunting license holder who previously hunted in the surrounding areas himself. However, other hunters had often felt “uncomfortable” in the suspect's presence, according to one recreational hunter.

According to a local hunting leaseholder, the accused was not in any direct conflict with any of the affected hobby hunters. The acts were described as “inexplicable.” Any motive behind the burning of the hunting blinds can only be speculated upon.

Already on investigators’ radar in 2017

The suspect first came to the attention of police back in 2017. Following theft allegations, officers searched his home and discovered improperly stored air rifles. They subsequently confiscated 23 long guns and one handgun belonging to the man. In the course of the seizure, however, a small-caliber firearm went missing and has never been found.

The alleged arsonist could face a prison sentence of at least one year if convicted of arson. Police investigations are ongoing.