New Zealand Police have arrested a 34-year-old man on suspicion of arson at the hotel where New Zealand national team players and staff are staying. A fire broke out on Saturday evening at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland, following which the selection had to be evacuated. No one was hurt.
A police spokeswoman cannot say anything about the nationality of the arrested man. It is clear that it is someone who lives in New Zealand. The suspect is due in court on Monday.
The fire broke out around 8 p.m. (local time) on Saturday evening. Eight fire engines arrived at the scene and, according to a spokesperson, the fire was quickly extinguished. THE New Zealand Herald report that the New Zealand players had to be led up a stairwell through heavy smoke.
New Zealand played the opening game of the World Cup in their own country against Norway (1-0) earlier this week.
This is the second violent incident in Auckland during the World Cup. On the first day, a man shot at a construction site around him. There were two deaths.
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