Confirmation of the death of a Syrian young man in a suspected arson fire in Vienna
Austrian authorities confirmed the death of a Syrian young man in a fire that broke out two weeks ago in a residential building on Bergsteiggasse 11 in Vienna, after DNA test results matched his body with his samples.
According to what Austria Now reported, DNA testing was conducted using a biological sample from personal belongings of the victim, due to the inability to identify the body by traditional means because of severe fire exposure. The results showed a complete match, definitively confirming the identity of the deceased.
The fire broke out on Monday evening at the main entrance of the building, in a location described by rescue teams as highly dangerous, which limited the chances of survival from the very first moments. During the inspection operations conducted after the fire was brought under control, emergency teams found the body of a man inside the building's stairwell, while another injured person was taken to the hospital and was later found not to belong to the missing person.
Informed sources reported that the victim's friends residing in Vienna had filed an official report about his disappearance after losing contact with him immediately after the fire broke out, in addition to his family from Syria contacting to inquire about his fate, which prompted the police to treat the case as a high-priority matter.
In a parallel development, a new inspection of the fire site revealed clear signs of forced entry on the main building's door, where the lock appeared unusually broken. According to investigation sources, it is currently being examined whether this damage was caused by forced entry before the fire broke out or as a direct result of the flames, which is considered a key element in the investigation process.
The police continue their extensive investigations amid strong suspicion that the fire may have been deliberately set, especially given the recording of several similar small fires in the same area over the past few weeks. Specialized teams are working to analyze the technical evidence and listen to residents' testimonies, while inviting anyone with relevant information to come forward to the authorities.