Swiss police said Friday they were still appealing for witnesses to come forward in connection with a fire they believe was deliberately started outside the Romanian embassy in Bern.
The blaze broke out on Monday and according to initial findings, “the fire was started deliberately”, the Bern cantonal police said in a statement earlier this week.
“An unidentified perpetrator placed a burning object near the fence of the Romanian embassy in Bern. The fire subsequently spread to the surrounding vegetation.”
An employee from the embassy managed to put out the fire, before the Bern fire brigade deployed as a precaution and set up a fire watch at the scene.
“No-one was injured, though property damage occurred,” the police said.
The police have launched an investigation into the incident, and are asking “anyone who may have observed anything suspicious in the vicinity of the Romanian embassy or who has any relevant information” to come forward.
A Bern cantonal police spokeswoman told AFP on Friday: “The appeal for witnesses is still active.”
The Romanian embassy — a neo-Baroque villa built in 1904 — is very close to those of other countries, including Britain, Canada, Austria, the Philippines, Ireland, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.
Romania’s foreign ministry said in a statement Wednesday: “The Swiss authorities consider the incident to be a minor one, but because it occurred near an embassy, an investigation has been launched. Romania is cooperating with the Swiss authorities in this regard.”
