Suche
Mein Konto
Shock in Cologne: Mouse statue severely damaged after arson attack!
After an arson attack on the mouse statue in Cologne, Florian Silbereisen is outraged and hopes for a quick repair.
Shock in Cologne: Mouse statue severely damaged after arson attack!
The mouse statue in Cologne is a real landmark and a popular photo opportunity, but now it's in the spotlight for an unfortunate reason. Two weeks ago, the 1.70 meter high figure, which has stood between the WDR Vierscheibehaus and the 1LIVE house since March 2021, was set on fire by vandals. This criminal act occurred on the night of Friday to Saturday, which was shocking news for many Cologne residents. The fire caused significant damage to an arm and part of the face of the statue, which is a symbol of joy and togetherness and has accompanied children for generations. Matthias Körnich, head of children's programming at WDR, was stunned by the vandalism and said: "The mouse is a symbol of joy and togetherness." Mercury reports that a WDR employee noticed the fire via a surveillance camera and immediately alerted the fire department, who were able to quickly put the fire out.
On the ground next to the statue, the emergency services found pieces of Styrofoam or a cut-up sponge that were apparently used in the fire. The reaction of the fans is all the more touching: After the attack, children stuck colorful plasters on the damaged areas of the statue to show their support. Little fans' connection to the mouse is entirely in line with what the character represents - joy and community. Florian Silbereisen, who will host the mouse show at the end of August, also expressed his horror at the vandalism and hopes the statue can be repaired by the show. TVseries.de adds that this is not the first time the mouse statue has been the target of vandalism; last year she was kidnapped - a protest against cuts to public broadcasters.
Different reactions to the incident
Körnich is not alone in his disappointment. Many Cologne residents and visitors are affected by the brutal, ugly act. “It’s just incomprehensible why someone would do something like that,” commented a passer-by. Nevertheless, the community stands together: WDR has announced that it will find a solution to make the statue accessible to children and families again as quickly as possible. “Something like this simply shouldn’t happen in Cologne,” added a resident.
The mouse statue was carefully dismantled on August 1st and is currently undergoing repairs. WDR will do everything in its power to restore the figure as quickly as possible. The hope remains that the mouse will shine again soon and that fans big and small can look forward to seeing it in its full glory. A picture of solidarity that couldn't be more beautiful against the backdrop of such an unpleasant incident.