Teen ‘blew up mother’s new home’ in Germany

An 18-year-old has been arrested after police say he blew up his mother’s new apartment so they wouldn’t have to move.

The teen, who hasn’t been named, was arrested on Tuesday the day after a huge blaze broke out in an apartment in the north German town of Velen.

Police say he covered the flat in gasoline before setting it alight, causing an explosion which destroyed five other homes and two shops.

The ensuing blaze caused an explosion which destroyed six apartments and two shops, caused 1million euros worth of damage, and took 65 firefighters to put out

A 69-year-old woman, who lived in one of those homes, had to be taken to hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation, Westfälische Nachrichten reports.

In total 65 firefighters from four districts were needed to extinguish the blaze, which started on Monday morning. 

Police say the boy torched the apartment because he did not want to move there from his old home in Borken, located a 15 minute drive away.

He was tracked down after witnesses described seeing him leave the scene in a car.

Police arrested the boy after tracking down the vehicle, and say he gave contradictory statements when questioned and could not explain what he had been doing at the property. 

The teen has now been charged with attempted murder, arson, grievous bodily harm and setting an explosion over the fire.

Witnesses told police they saw the teen leave the scene in a car. When officers caught up with him they say he failed to explain what he had been doing there

Investigators now believed the boy caused the fire, which injured a 69-year-old woman, because he did not want to move there with his mother