Thirty-one people are wounded following arson attacks in Essen, Germany by a Syrian national Saturday, The Jerusalem Post reported. Two children were critically wounded after the machete-wielding assailant set ablaze a residential building on Altenessener Strasse, at the corner of Pielsticker Strasse, according to The Post, based on reporting from Bild. The man then drove to another apartment complex a few blocks over and started a fire there.

The Post noted that Tagesschau reported how people were throwing their children from windows in the complex to pillows they had positioned on the street in order to get them away from the flames. After setting two buildings aflame, the suspect then proceeded to Katernberger Strasse, ramming his car into a store, putting the vehicle into reverse and driving into the building once more.

But his destruction spree wasn’t over as the arsonist moved to another store on Katernberger Strasse, where he produced a machete and began waving it at the terrified customers. Some shoppers attempted to stop the man by throwing store products at him. Bild reported that the man was arrested soon after, his hands apparently burned from the fires he had set. The suspect is reportedly known to police because of other violations of the law

“The crime police have taken over the investigation and are examining the connections between the incidents. The specific motives of the arrested man are also the subject of the investigation,” Essen police said in a statement, according to The Post.

Another Syrian national was recently arrested in Germany for preparing to attack soldiers with a machete, the Post noted. The accused brought two machetes, each about 15.75 inches long. He wanted to surprise Bundeswehr soldiers while they were having lunch and knife as many to death as possible.

Over a three-week span, nine churches in Europe were left in flames by arsonists. In response to rising crime, Germany has promised to deport illegal immigrants.