A 26-year-old young man was sentenced to twenty-three years in prison in Colmar for his responsibility in an arson that left five people dead in 2020 at a building in Strasbourg. The sentence imposed on Sassoun Azarian on Monday evening by the Haut-Rhin Assize Court of Appeal is consistent with the sentence imposed in first instance in September 2023 by the Bas-Rhin Assize Court.
His co-defendant, Munasar Ali Abdullahi, 27, was acquitted of arson, but sentenced to five years in prison for failing to assist a person in danger, which is the maximum sentence. His sentence was increased by six months compared to the 2023 ruling. The court ordered the suspension of the detention warrant, meaning Munasar Ali Abdullahi is currently free, but will be summoned to prison.
“I am satisfied that he has been acquitted of arson, but it does not seem appropriate for him to return to custody.”told Agence France-Presse his lawyer, Me Michaël Wacquez intends to submit a request for modification of this sentence.
On the night of 26 to 27 February 2020, at around 01.00, the fire quickly spread throughout the seven-story building on rue de Barr, in the station district, in Strasbourg. The fire involved no less than 48 firefighters and 23 vehicles. Emergency services counted seven people injured and five people dead: a 68-year-old retiree, a 25-year-old medical intern, a 45-year-old forklift driver, a 29-year-old youth and a 25-year-old Togolese student.
