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Krefeld zoo fire: German police suspect three women | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
German police suspect a mother and her two adult daughters of having caused a deadly zoo fire by releasing illegal sky lanterns on New Year's Eve. | |
The blaze killed more than 30 animals, including rare apes and monkeys, in the western city of Krefeld. | |
Police say they have questioned the three women - they live locally and "are extremely sorry". | |
They allegedly did not realise that the lanterns - bought on the internet - were banned in Germany. | |
The fire on the night of 31 December gutted the zoo's tropical ape house. | |
Rare Bornean orangutans, chimpanzees and marmosets lived in the 2,000 sq m (21,500 sq ft) enclosure. | |
Two chimpanzees and a seven-strong family of gorillas survived. They were in a neighbouring Gorilla Garden, and firefighters managed to prevent the flames spreading from the ape house. | |
Five orangutans died, along with a chimpanzee and many monkeys. The ape house - replicating a rainforest habitat - was also home to birds and fruit bats. | |
Flying "Chinese" lanterns have a solid fuel flame inside a thin paper shell. Police say five were let off, including three that were found near the gutted ape house. | |
State prosecutor Jens Frobel said "the case is focused on three women from Krefeld, who are from 30 to 60 years old. | |
"They are suspected of arson through negligence." They could face up to five years in jail or a fine. | |
The women reported to police on Wednesday, and police praised them for "courageously" coming forward with information. | |
The zoo is mourning the loss of Massa, a 45-year-old western lowland gorilla, and his female partner. Massa was one of the oldest captive gorillas in Europe. | |
Firefighters saved two chimpanzees - Bally and Limbo. | |
One firefighter, Andreas Klos, said: "We were amazed that the building burned down so quickly". He noted that it did not have a sprinkler system. | |
The zoo thanked people for their "overwhelming wave of compassion". It remained closed on Thursday. A makeshift memorial with flowers, candles and mourning placards has been set up at the entrance. | |
It is the most devastating zoo fire in Germany in recent years. In November 2010, a fire at a zoo in Karlsruhe killed 26 animals including alpacas, miniature donkeys and Shetland ponies. | It is the most devastating zoo fire in Germany in recent years. In November 2010, a fire at a zoo in Karlsruhe killed 26 animals including alpacas, miniature donkeys and Shetland ponies. |