German lottery winner's property badly damaged in suspected arson attack
More than a year ago, Kürsat "Chico" Yildirim won €9.9 million ($10.83 million) in a lottery draw in Germany. Last week, a fire broke out at a house he owned in Dortmund, wiping out some of his profits. Authorities believe it was a case of arson.
A report from Dortmund police showed that police and fire services were notified of the fire at around 4:20 a.m. on Friday. According to the German media Bild, the fire broke out in a building that Chico had just purchased.
Emergency services quickly began extinguishing the blaze, which threatened to spread to neighboring properties. They were mostly successful, but the building's roof structure was completely gutted. The fire also reportedly damaged the basement.
Authorities had to evacuate 23 residents, some of whom suffered minor smoke inhalation. Four people went to a local hospital in Dortmund for further evaluation due to smoke inhalation.
The rest of the group holed up in a nearby café to watch the drama unfold. Seven ladder trucks, including one with a telescopic mast, had to work together to extinguish the blaze.
Arson investigation continues
An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, but police believe it was arson. The case joins a series of other fires north of Dortmund.
There have been smaller and larger fires there over the past few weeks. However, it is unclear whether a single arsonist targeted Chico. Police are hoping witnesses will come forward with information.
Chico recently opened up about his various property purchases, saying he spent €6.7 million ($7.33 million). It's unclear how much of it belongs to Dortmund or whether he had time to buy insurance. He reportedly purchased the property a week before the fire.
Rise to Fame
Chico, now 42, left her native Turkey at age 12 for a better life in Germany. His father and grandfather had come to the country on work visas.
Chico trained as an auto mechanic, then worked as a crane operator and eventually a foreman. However, his time in the country also included prison time. Gambling and drugs led to robbery and fraud, culminating in a two-year prison sentence.
In August 2022, Chico won the lottery and everything changed. He no longer worried about work or spent money on gambling, and soon began to live a luxurious life.
This included luxury cars and travel - using the money to buy many things he could only dream of before. Among them was a new girlfriend, a police officer named "Candace N." whom he met when she pulled him over for a traffic violation.
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Source: www.casino.org
