Initial forensic and chemical investigations have revealed clear evidence of fire accelerants, in this case gasoline. The criminal police and the public prosecutor’s office assume that the flammable liquid was distributed in the kiosk and was the cause of the explosion.
The investigation into the crime and the background to it is ongoing, although there is currently no evidence of a politically motivated crime or external influence. A murder squad has taken over the police investigation.
The “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”, citing a conversation with the landlord of the kiosk premises, reported that the contract with the kiosk operators had been terminated due to numerous complaints from the neighborhood. A police spokesman neither wanted to confirm nor deny this.
Investigation into the cause of death
The other two victims have also been identified. It is said to be the 48-year-old kiosk owner and the missing 18-year-old. The first identified victim was a 55-year-old resident of the house. According to the initial findings of the Düsseldorf public prosecutor’s office, the 18 and 55 year old men died of smoke inhalation.
The kiosk operator’s body was discovered in the immediate vicinity of the store. According to the autopsy, the 48-year-old kiosk owner died as a result of the explosion, investigators said. At the time of the explosion he was at the entrance to the kiosk inside the house.
A cover-up act cannot be ruled out
The police previously investigated whether the fire was started by outside influence. A possible cover-up was not completely ruled out.
On Thursday night, around half past two in the morning, the kiosk on Lichtstrasse in the Flingern district caught fire as a result of an explosion. The kiosk is located on the ground floor of an apartment building. The fire department brought over 70 people to safety. There are still many unanswered questions that the experts’ analysis of traces should now provide more insight into.
Massive injuries not caused by fire
Firefighters said that one of the bodies had massive injuries that could not have been caused by a fire or explosion. However, the autopsies on Thursday afternoon did not provide any clarity.
Forensics specialists in action
The explosion caused several nearby cars to catch fire and the neighboring house across the street was also hit by debris. Some residents were initially able to escape to the balconies of the smoke-filled house. The fire brigade rescued them using turntable ladders. At times, the fire department also looked after residents from neighboring buildings on site, supported by emergency pastors.
According to the police, forensic specialists, trained fire investigators and a team from the State Criminal Police Office began working at the crime scene. In addition, an external fire expert was called in.