Flares igniting - Probe reveals kiosk attendant as the culprit behind the blast.
A 48-year-old kiosk operator is believed to be responsible for the explosion and fire that led to the death of three people and injured 16 in Düsseldorf, according to authorities who revealed this news on Tuesday. It's assumed that he accidentally spilled gasoline in his kiosk and then set it on fire.
It is believed that he was startled by the blast he had caused. The 48-year-old man, one of the victims, was arguing with some neighbors. The short-term lease for the kiosk rooms was set to expire at year's end and had not been renewed. The man had also been seeking treatment for a mental illness. These findings were gathered by the investigation team.
A woman, critically injured in the fire, remains in intensive care. The police are currently investigating for murder and arson. If the current investigation stands as is, the case might be dropped as the sole suspect is now deceased.
On the ground floor of the damaged residential and commercial building, gasoline was discovered to have been spilled as a fuel. This likely created a combustible gas-air mixture that ignited, resulting in an explosion. The deceased kiosk operator (48) was found near the back of the store, succumbing to the effects of the blast on May 16 at around 2 a.m.
On the first floor of the building, the body of a 55-year-old resident was discovered, displaying relatively recent injuries. He breathed in too much smoke and died as a result. This has led to conjecture that the fire was an attempt to conceal something.
Investigators now believe that the man was intent on ending his life due to desperation to prevent being burned alive: Flames blocked the way to the street outside his apartment's windows, and the path through the stairwell was obscured by dense smoke.
The fire quickly spread from the building's ground floor. The fire department had to rescue several individuals by guiding them to the balconies, as the stairwell's escape route was blocked. Neighboring homes were also harmed. Several cars outside the building burst into flames. The destruction also reached the house opposite. Over 100 emergency responders attended the scene and found a scene of destruction. Even the property across the street was damaged by the detonation.
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- Following the explosion and fire, the public prosecutor's office in North Rhine-Westphalia has initiated an investigation into the possible crimes of arson and homicide.
- Emergencies were called due to the explosion and subsequent fires in Düsseldorf, resulting in the deployment of over 100 emergency responders.
- The explosion and subsequent fires in the commercial and residential building were caused by a gasoline spill on the ground floor, leading to an explosion and spread of fires.
- The police are also investigating potential criminal acts related to the explosion, as the discovery of a deceased resident on the first floor with recent injuries has led to suspicions of a cover-up.
- Despite the destruction and multiple fires, several individuals were able to be rescued by the fire department, who guided them to balconies and through smoke-filled stairwells.
Source: www.stern.de
