News reports from Belgium cover an incident in which a man is alleged to have committed arson to an abandoned castle that is located on the grounds of an airsoft site. The castle, called Chateau de la Motte en Gée, is located in Huy, Belgium. It is southwest of Liège, the third biggest urban area in the country.

According to Lavenir.net, at around 12:59pm yesterday, firefighters were called to a fire that had broken out at the Chateau de la Motte en Gée in Tihange. They discovered that several gallons of gasoline was dumped into the abandoned castle. The firefighters were able to contain the fire quickly and the damage was minimal.

Two police officers were in the area at the time of the incident and they noticed suspicious activity. One tried to give chase to the suspect who fled on an electric bike but failed to catch him. A wider police search immediately followed which eventually found the suspect in Tihange, a Dutchman who is 39 years old.

The castle traces its origins to 1100 and was the home to a religious community. The property changed hands over the years and was demolished in 1885 and the present one was built on it. Known as the “Red Castle,” it was then as home or as a holiday place. Before it was abandoned, it was a hotel and convention centre.

Local authorities have approved use of the area for airsoft as long as players they do not encroach on the public forests. Airsofters from the Netherlands play airsoft at the site every weekend.

As to the motives of the suspect, it is not clear. Sudinfo reports that sources say that it may have been caused by a rivalry amongst airsoft groups from the Netherlands. Also, it mentions that the property usually has a guard but was absent on the day the fire happened.