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

  • Explosion in apartment in north Germany burned down six flats and two shops 
  • A 69-year-old woman was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation 
  • Police arrested 18-year-old boy and say he started fire in mother’s new home
  • Teen didn’t want to move there from Borken, 15 minute drive away, it is claimed

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.

An 18-yer-old boy has been arrested after police say he covered an apartment in this building in north Germany with gasoline and then set it on fire on Monday

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

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

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

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

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk