Austrian patriots have completely destroyed a new invader center in Altenfelden, Upper Austria, in an arson attack on the building just days before it was due to open.

The attack, which took place early on Wednesday morning, caused €300,000 worth of damage and completely destroyed the timber-framed building.

“We are shocked to establish that the blaze was definitely caused by arson,” Walter Aichinger, conservative party (ÖVP) politician and president of the Red Cross of Upper Austria, told the Nachrichten.at news service.

Aichinger added that the Red Cross intended to rebuild the center as soon as possible.

Investigators reported that they had found traces of two fires having been started on the outside walls of the building, but had not yet discovered which sort of accelerant had been used.

The Austrian “State Office for Protection of the Constitution”—the democratic Stasi which investigates anyone opposed to the Third World invasion of Austria—has also now appointed an investigation team, the Nachrichten report added.

ÖVP Mayor Klaus Gattringer told the news service that he was “in shock,” because he did not believe that “such a thing was possible in his community.”

Gattringer did admit that when the invader center plans were announced, there was “massive opposition” locally.

“The property has been controversial among the community. People asked the usual questions about their security, and who were the people who were going to be coming to the area,” he said.

“In February there was a public meeting of locals which was attended by nearly 400 people. I will not deny that there was massive resistance. But I believed that we were able to answer all the questions positively.”

However, he admitted that there had been ongoing protests, petitions over the center, and that most recently placards had appeared in town with slogans such as “protect our women.”

Some 48 invaders were due to move in in less than two weeks, he said.

The police have offered a reward of €5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator.