13. 01. 09. - 09:00

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13. 01. 09. - 09:00

World's worst firemen burn down their own station

Bungling firemen have been branded the worst in the world after their own fire station burned to the ground.

All six fire engines perished in the 3 million GBP blaze in Syke, northern Germany, and it took 250 firemen from nearby towns to finally bring the inferno under control.

Investigators believe the fire fighters could have triggered the blaze themselves in a training exercise accident or that faulty wiring was to blame.

The weekend blaze was the second time the brigade has lost all its engines in a fire. The station was rebuilt in 1994 after being gutted by a fire.

"A fire service that can't even keep its own fire station and engines safe doesn't exactly inspire confidence," raged one local.

Austrian Times

Bulgarian cigarette smugglers arrested
Two Bulgarians have been arrested after trying to smuggle more than 35,000 cartons of cigarettes to the UK.

ChemFreight acquires Logwin's Krems facility
Goods transport firm ChemFreight Transport, Logistik & Waggonvermietung GmbH said today (Tues) it had bought freight firm Logwin’s facility in Krems, Lower Austria, after approval of the deal by the Austrian competition authority.

Crooks behind 47 Styrian robberies arrested
Crooks behind almost 50 burglaries in Styria have been arrested, police said today (Tues).

Beer quarrel ends in axe murder
A 20-year-old hacked his mum’s boyfriend to death with an axe in after accusing him of drinking his beer, police have said.

Artec starts bankruptcy proceedings
Machine builder Artec Maschinenbau GmbH entered bankruptcy proceedings today (Tues) in Upper Austria, according to the Credit Protection Agency of 1870 (KSV) and Creditreform.

Inner tube sledge girl seriously injured
A nine-year-old is in hospital with serious injuries after she crashed into a tree as she sledged on a tyre’s inner tube.

Post to pay employees huge bonus for police work
The Austrian postal service (Post) is to pay its employees a bonus of 10,000 Euros to transfer to police work, according to today’s (Tues) edition of the newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten.

Flight bookings up
Travel agencies have reported an increase in flight bookings, according to booking platform Amadeus Austria.

A piece of heaven for the ice skaters
For anybody who likes ice skating and fancies something a bit different than the regular rink or the crowded location at the front of the Vienna City Hall might want to consider a visit to Engelmann.

Stevens extends Red Bull contract
Huub Stevens has extended his contract with champions Red Bull Salzburg, it was announced today (Tues).