On Sunday, April 28, unknown perpetrators set fire to a bench in the aisle of St. Nicholas Church. The fire did not spread, but the smoke caused extensive damage. The police are investigating the incident.
The fire was started on one of the wooden benches, which was damaged as a result. The fire did not spread any further and apparently went out on its own, but “the soot caused further damage and contamination to the building ceiling and the organ", says Matthias Arends, spokesman of the Kiel police department, who also assessed the damage to the church after the fire.
Henrich Schwerk, church music director and spokesman for the Plön parish, confirmed the church would probably have to remain closed for up to six months for the cleaning work.
There are currently 33 confirmation candidates who would have been confirmed this weekend in St. Nikolai, but he added: "This is no longer possible because of the fire.