Berlin court orders psychiatric confinement for cold bus arsonist

The Berlin District Court has ordered the indefinite confinement of a 43-year-old man in a psychiatric hospital following an arson attack on a ‘cold bus’ in Berlin-Moabit. The incident, which occurred on New Year's Day 2026, involved the perpetrator pouring liquid accelerant on the hood of a vehicle belonging to the Berliner Stadtmission and setting it on fire. The attack resulted in approximately 70,000 euros in property damage.

The court ruled the defendant was not criminally responsible due to a long-standing mental illness, describing the act as being committed in a state of delusion. The defendant confessed to the crime, stating his intent was to force police and courts to address individuals he believed had been persecuting him for 23 years. The court determined that permanent psychiatric placement is necessary for public protection.