Three Indian nationals die in a residential building fire in Bochum, Germany, while five other people are injured, local reporting says. The victims include two women, aged 25 and 27, and a 26-year-old man. Firefighters find the three dead in an apartment on the second floor after being alerted in the early hours of Tuesday, around 4:15 a.m. The five injured suffer smoke inhalation and are taken to hospitals in Bochum.
German media reports, citing Bochum police and statements shared with broadcasters and agencies, say investigators rule out a technical defect and suspect arson, though whether the fire was deliberately set or started accidentally is still under investigation. One outlet also describes firefighting challenges because flames spread up through the stairwell, limiting access to upper floors. Separately, police arrest a 41-year-old resident of the building on suspicion of murder; he is reported to be Romanian. Police and prosecutors announce the arrest on Wednesday, and the suspect is questioned by homicide investigators.