A fire in the historic city center of Quedlinburg in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt destroyed three protected buildings that formed part of the city's UNESCO world cultural heritage ensemble on New Year's Eve. Officials said the financial damage was about €3 million ($4 million). The cause of the fire remains unknown and police officials said they were still investigating the case. Three men had been arrested because they threw fire crackers at firemen while the latter were trying to extinguish the flames.