Two teenagers charged over fire at Hallein secondary school
Friday 4th September 2026 on 14:45 in
Austria
Two teenagers have been charged over a fire that destroyed part of the library at Hallein secondary school in Salzburg, ORF reported. The trial is scheduled for October 9.
The 16-year-old girl is accused of arson. A 17-year-old apprentice, who was not a student at the school when the fire was set, is accused of acting as an accomplice.
The fire broke out shortly after 3 a.m. on May 11. Hundreds of books were destroyed in one of Salzburg’s largest school libraries. Fire doors and the emergency response prevented the flames from spreading to other rooms. No one was injured.
Investigators soon found indications that an accelerant had been used. The damage was estimated at between 200,000 and 300,000 euros.
On August 21, Salzburg police said they had identified two suspects. The two Salzburg residents allegedly poured accelerant in several places in the library.
The 17-year-old, who was the girl’s boyfriend at the time, admitted causing the fire with a substantial amount of petrol. The 16-year-old exercised her right not to give evidence.
The motive remains unknown. The Salzburg public prosecutor’s office said on Friday that neither teenager had a previous criminal record. Both will face a panel of lay judges at the Salzburg Regional Court.