The suspects responsible for a fire at a German zoo which killed dozens of animals are a mother, 60, and her two adult daughters believed to be in their 30s, Krefeld police have confirmed. The three women from Krefeld in western Germany lit five paper Chinese lanterns and launched them into the sky on New Year's Eve, despite a ban on the objects, which they had ordered online without a permit. They handed themselves into police after learning of the disaster on the news, in which the entire ape house burned down and more than 30 animals, including five orangutans, a 48-year-old silverback gorilla called Massa, a chimpanzee and several monkeys, as well as fruit bats and birds, were killed just after midnight on New Year's Eve. Criminal police chief Gerd Hoppmann described the women as 'completely normal people who seemed very sensible, very responsible'. Hoppmann added that it was 'courageous' of them to hand themselves into police after learning of the fire, saving them a lengthy investigation. 'That is courageous. It stands for something that they handed themselves into the police like that. It is a decent thing to do and earns my respect,' he said. He said that they fear reprisals. The suspects could either face up to five years' jail time or be hit with a fine. According to Hoppmann, the internet companies selling the lanterns provide no warning about the countries they are banned in and there was nothing in the product description that could have informed the buyer. Many Germans welcome in the new year legally with fireworks at midnight. Sky lanterns, however, are both mostly illegal and unusual in Germany. The mini hot-air balloons made of paper have been used in Asia for centuries. Authorities are investigating on a single charge of 'arson through negligence', which carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in jail. Police admitted that the incident was an 'exceptional' one. Four of the five lanterns have been recovered by authorities.Analysts studied the handwriting on one of the lanterns and inspected the burned-out animal enclosure at Krefeld Zoo, as well as analysing wind and weather patterns to determine those responsible and the exact details surrounding the case. According to investigators, the fire was ignited in the north-eastern corner of the cage before strengthening and spreading, and the animals were either burnt to death or killed by inhaling toxic smoke. 'I've seen very many human corpses,' Hoppmann said. 'And I was struck by how like humans the bodies of the great apes looked when transformed by the fire.' The ape house had been fitted with plexiglass - a transparent plastic material - a few years ago after a hailstorm. Foliage on the roof of the enclosure may have played a role in strengthening the fire, police said. The zoo has been criticised for not installing sprinklers within the ape house which could have prevented the fire from spreading. The city of Krefeld is considering a ban on fireworks, in the wake
People who let off lanterns that burned Krefeld Zoo report to police
The suspects responsible for a fire at a German zoo which killed dozens of animals are a mother, 60, and her two adult daughters believed to be in their 30s, Krefeld police have confirmed. The three women from Krefeld in western Germany lit five paper Chinese lanterns and launched them into the sky on New Year's Eve, despite a ban on the objects, which they had ordered online without a permit. They handed themselves into police after learning of the disaster on the news, in which the entire ape house burned down and more than 30 animals, including five orangutans, a 48-year-old silverback gorilla called Massa, a chimpanzee and several monkeys, as well as fruit bats and birds, were killed just after midnight on New Year's Eve. Criminal police chief Gerd Hoppmann described the women as 'completely normal people who seemed very sensible, very responsible'. Hoppmann added that it was 'courageous' of them to hand themselves into police after learning of the fire, saving them a lengthy investigation. 'That is courageous. It stands for something that they handed themselves into the police like that. It is a decent thing to do and earns my respect,' he said. He said that they fear reprisals. The suspects could either face up to five years' jail time or be hit with a fine. According to Hoppmann, the internet companies selling the lanterns provide no warning about the countries they are banned in and there was nothing in the product description that could have informed the buyer. Many Germans welcome in the new year legally with fireworks at midnight. Sky lanterns, however, are both mostly illegal and unusual in Germany. The mini hot-air balloons made of paper have been used in Asia for centuries. Authorities are investigating on a single charge of 'arson through negligence', which carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in jail. Police admitted that the incident was an 'exceptional' one. Four of the five lanterns have been recovered by authorities.Analysts studied the handwriting on one of the lanterns and inspected the burned-out animal enclosure at Krefeld Zoo, as well as analysing wind and weather patterns to determine those responsible and the exact details surrounding the case. According to investigators, the fire was ignited in the north-eastern corner of the cage before strengthening and spreading, and the animals were either burnt to death or killed by inhaling toxic smoke. 'I've seen very many human corpses,' Hoppmann said. 'And I was struck by how like humans the bodies of the great apes looked when transformed by the fire.' The ape house had been fitted with plexiglass - a transparent plastic material - a few years ago after a hailstorm. Foliage on the roof of the enclosure may have played a role in strengthening the fire, police said. The zoo has been criticised for not installing sprinklers within the ape house which could have prevented the fire from spreading. The city of Krefeld is considering a ban on fireworks, in the wake
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