Three Indians Killed in Bochum Building Fire
Three Indian nationals were killed when a fire broke out at a residential building in Bochum’s Hofstede district, according to German media accounts citing police. The victims were two women aged 25 and 27 and a 26-year-old man.
Their names and home states in India were not immediately available. Firefighters discovered the three victims dead inside a second-floor apartment after the blaze erupted early on Tuesday, October 13.
Five other people suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to hospitals in Bochum. Their nationalities and further details about their condition were not specified in the information provided.
Germany Fire Prompts Arrest of Building Resident
Police arrested a 41-year-old resident of the building on suspicion of murder. German media identified the suspect as a Romanian national, citing the German Press Agency, DPA.
Police and prosecutors announced the arrest on Wednesday. A Bochum police spokesperson told public broadcaster WDR that initial grounds existed to suspect the man of murder and that homicide investigators had questioned him. The arrest does not establish guilt, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Suspected Arson Under Investigation
Investigators have ruled out a technical defect as the cause of the blaze and are examining suspected arson. However, whether the fire was deliberately set or started accidentally remains under investigation.
Authorities are working to establish how the flames began and the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The available information does not establish a motive or confirm that the Indian victims were specifically targeted.
Bochum Fire Forces Difficult Rescue Operation
Emergency services received the alert at around 4:15 AM local time on Tuesday. Flames spread upwards through the building’s stairwell, making it difficult for firefighters to reach residents on the upper floors through the usual access route.
Rescue teams used several methods to bring people to safety. Two residents were rescued using a turntable ladder, two others with portable ladders, and another person with a safety cushion.
