Thursday, 13 August 2026: Man found dead following a flat fire; suspected drug dealing

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Last night, a flat caught fire in the south-east of Leipzig; a man was found dead at the scene. Also: A late-night shop on Zweinaundorfer Straße was sealed off on suspicion of drug dealing, and a man was arrested. The LZ summarises the key events from Thursday, 13 August 2026, in Leipzig, Saxony and beyond.

Flat fire in high-rise block: Fire brigade finds body of a tenant

A flat fire last night claimed one life: the Leipzig Police Headquarters (PD) had to report this sad news today. According to PD spokesperson Paul Engelmann, the fire broke out in the early hours of the morning at around 01:35 on the tenth floor of a high-rise block on Straße des 18. Oktober.

Firefighters found the tenant of the flat lifeless inside – nothing could be done to save the 57-year-old. According to current information, no other residents or flats in the building were harmed. Between 01:45 and 04:05, the street was completely closed off due to the emergency operation. The extent of the property damage is not yet known. The criminal investigation department is investigating the incident as a case of arson and will call in a fire investigator, according to the police spokesperson.

Late-night shop sealed off following suspected drug dealing

Another police report from today relates to suspected drug trafficking. Background: According to police spokesperson Engelmann, searches took place yesterday at a late-night shop on Zweinaundorfer Straße. A sniffer dog was also deployed during the operation. According to police, 70 grams of crystal meth, over 250 grams of heroin, approximately 150 grams of cannabis and several tablets – including ecstasy, Subutex and tilidine – were ultimately seized.

A 30-year-old man was taken into custody; following identification procedures, he has since been released. The City of Leipzig has sealed off the late-night shop. The relevant specialist unit of the Criminal Investigation Department is investigating the alleged drug trafficking.

What the LZ reported on today:

Guest commentary by Christian Wolff: 13 August 2026 – The Wall’s

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New DIW study: Government investment stabilises the economy far more effectively than tax cuts

Hello Leipzig: How Thursday, 13 August 2026, begins

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Climate protection funding pot won’t run dry: Saxony’s local authorities lack the funds to submit applications

What else has been happening:

The ‘Tacheles’ theme year on Jewish culture in Saxony runs until December 2026 – and, according to the City of Leipzig , still has over 100 events lined up until then.

The Chemnitz Magistrates’ Court has issued an arrest warrant for AfD Member of the Bundestag Maximilian Krah (49). This follows a legal dispute with TV satirist Jan Böhmermann (45).

In Berlin and elsewhere, commemorative events marked the start of the construction of the Berlin Wall and issued a stark warning against any retrospective glorification of the GDR: exactly 65 years ago, the SED had the borders with West Berlin hermetically sealed off. Until the fall of the Wall in 1989, numerous people died, including those shot whilst attempting to escape.

Romania’s only nuclear power station was shut down due to low water levels in the Danube.