Police in Hesse are investigating an online claim of responsibility after three construction machines burned at a Rheinmetall site at Kassel-Calden Airport in Calden. The fire broke out early on Friday, 30 October, and nearby machinery was also damaged. Investigators suspect deliberate arson, but have not established who was responsible or whether the claim is authentic.
A witness alerted emergency services at about 3.15 a.m. The State Security division is investigating whether the fire had a political motive. The claim appeared on a platform classified by Germany’s domestic intelligence service as left-wing extremist; police are examining it, and it is not evidence of responsibility.
The construction site is linked to Rheinmetall’s planned logistics and training facilities and a drone test centre at the airport. The company plans to invest more than €260 million in Kassel and Calden, with Hesse contributing a further €25 million. Police had not provided an estimate of the damage and were seeking witnesses.