A 36-year-old Swiss man was arrested after allegedly setting fire to the Evangelical Reformed Church of St. Margaretha in Frenkendorf, Switzerland, damaging pews and interior structures.
On October 9, 2025, black smoke was seen pouring from the Evangelical Reformed Church of St. Margaretha in Frenkendorf, Switzerland, after a fire was set in the rear seating area of the sanctuary. Emergency services quickly extinguished the blaze, which damaged two rows of pews, the ceiling, and walls. Baselbiet police arrested a 36-year-old Swiss man near the church shortly after the incident, based on eyewitness accounts placing him at the entrance moments before the fire. Police spokesman Roland Walter stated, “He is being questioned and it is being determined whether he is responsible for similar fires,” adding that there were no current indications of political motivation. Church services were relocated to nearby parish halls during restoration.