Düsseldorf Kiosk Blast Reveals Accelerant as Culprit
An explosion and subsequent fire in Düsseldorf that resulted in three fatalities and 16 injuries was likely caused by spilled petrol. This is what officials from the police and the public prosecutor's office believed, as petrol was found to have been used as an accelerant in a kiosk within the affected residential and commercial building.
The tragedy unfolded in Düsseldorf on Thursday night, when three people lost their lives in a kiosk. The fire then spread to the building above, injuring another 16 individuals, some of whom were severely hurt. According to a police spokesperson, there was an explosion in the building.
After the fire department had finished their tasks, forensic experts moved in to investigate the cause of the fire. In addition, an external fire expert was called to assist. The identities and causes of death for the deceased had yet to be determined, and autopsies were expected to provide more information.
As reported by the public prosecutor's office on Thursday, one body was found in an apartment and two in the stairwell. The public prosecutor, Martin Stücker, stated that one of the victims was a 55-year-old resident of the building. Stücker also mentioned that external influence could not be ruled out for now, and that the experts' ongoing investigations would hopefully shed more light on the situation. The exact causes of death had not yet been established, but were thought to be related to the fire.
By Friday morning, the majority of the clean-up work around the six-storey building was completed. Car traffic and the streetcar were once again running, with the sidewalk in front of the fire station cordoned off using fencing. Wooden boards were also set up in front of the kiosk's remains on the first floor. A red heart, along with flowers and candles, was sprayed on the building's side.
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The international community expressed their condolences over the tragic incident in Düsseldorf. The fire that originated from the kiosk escalated into an international concern due to its severity and impact on the city.
In an effort to prevent similar incidents, international fire safety experts were invited to collaborate with their German counterparts in investigating the cause of the Düsseldorf fires.
Source: www.ntv.de
