Düsseldorf: Police find accelerant after fatal explosion

Victim identified
Explosion with three deaths in Düsseldorf: Investigators discover fire accelerant

The devastating explosion of a residential and commercial building in the Flingern-Nord district of Düsseldorf with three deaths on Thursday (the star reported) may have been caused deliberately. According to a statement, police experts discovered gasoline residue in the ruins of the fire.

Fire accelerant discovered in Düsseldorf fire ruins

“The criminal police and the public prosecutor’s office assume that the flammable liquid was spread in the shop on the ground floor, which resulted in the development of an ignitable gasoline-air mixture,” it said. This mixture may have ignited explosively. The investigators assume that the gasoline was dispensed in the kiosk.

It is still completely unclear who is behind the alleged arson attack. A murder squad’s investigation runs in all directions.

Meanwhile, officials were able to clarify the identities of the three victims. They are the 48-year-old husband of the operator of the kiosk on the ground floor, an 18-year-old and a 55-year-old resident of the house. 16 other people were injured by the explosion, some seriously. According to the police, a woman’s life is still in acute danger. The fire brigade rescued several people from the balconies of the house using a turntable ladder.

According to the DPA news agency, the clean-up work around the six-story building was largely completed on Friday morning. The sidewalk on the side of the destroyed building was cordoned off with fences, and wooden panels were installed in front of the windows of the kiosk. A red heart was sprayed on the side of the house and passersby placed flowers and candles on it.

Sources: Düsseldorf fire department, Police Düsseldorf (1), Police Düsseldorf (2)DPA news agency

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