Hitler's historic teahouse goes up in flames in Germany, arson suspected

Police arrest man after fire engulfs Eagle's Nest, but his possible involvement remains unclear

Adolf Hitler's historic teahouse, known as the Eagle's Nest, went up in flames Friday evening in southern Germany, with police suspecting arson and arresting a man, local media reported Saturday.

Emergency services were alerted shortly after 9pm local time (1900GMT), prompting a major firefighting operation, German newspaper BILD reported.

The building, officially known as the Kehlsteinhaus, was already engulfed in flames when firefighters and police arrived, according to police. A police spokesperson told the newspaper that officers suspected arson.

Police said officers responding to the fire encountered a motorcyclist traveling in the opposite direction. The officers alerted firefighters before stopping and arresting the man, according to police.

Read: Hitler's birthplace begins new life as a police station

Authorities have yet to determine whether the arrested man was involved in starting the fire, while the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

No injuries were reported, and initial findings indicated that nobody was inside the building when the fire broke out.

Firefighters continued battling the blaze late Friday, while the extent of the damage remained unclear.

The Kehlsteinhaus was built in 1937-38 as a representative teahouse for Nazi leader Adolf Hitler at an altitude of 1,834 metres (6,017 feet) above sea level. The building was intended to host foreign dignitaries and serve as a political reception venue away from public view.