A fire broke out in the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest in Tuesday after a person threw gasoline in the visitor access area. Rescue teams evacuated about 300 people from the building, while firefighters extinguished the fire, Romania-insider reported, quoted by News.bg.
A palace maid suffered a panic attack after allegedly being doused with fuel and received medical attention. She reportedly worked in the gift shop on the ground floor where the fire started.
No other injuries were reported and police are currently trying to identify the man who is believed to have left the building.
It is still unclear how the suspect was able to enter the building with the incendiary substance. One of the security posts is inside the building, but according to initial information quoted by Euronews Romania, the man managed to start the fire before the security could react.
Bucharest police said in a statement that "initial investigations revealed that following a spontaneous conflict, a male visitor allegedly threw a flammable substance" in the Palace of Parliament.
The Emergency Situations Inspectorate stated in a press release that they intervened to put out a fire in the "Konstantin Brancucci" hall. of the palace. "The fire started in a room for visitors, on an area of 30 square meters. Textiles and stationery were burnt. As a result of the incident, no one was injured."