(jd) An attentive witness noticed a flame in a school playground on the Ringstraße shortly after midnight on Saturday (16.11.). The man approached the schoolyard and saw four male persons there. When the witness saw them, they fled in the direction of Holzhauser Straße. The witness informed the police and gave a description of the persons. The fire destroyed the tabletop of a wooden table, causing damage to property in the three-digit range. The police officers who arrived carried out a search of the area and came across a male person wearing a conspicuous jacket and headgear. The witness had mentioned both items of clothing to the officers in advance. On seeing the patrol car in Ravensberger Straße, the person fled, apparently to avoid being stopped. However, the suspect, a 19-year-old from Bünde, was found in a basement passageway in Ringstraße. Among other things, he was carrying a lighter. The extent to which he is involved in the damage to property is still under investigation. The Herford criminal investigation department is in charge of this and is asking any further witnesses to contact them on 05221/8880.