The German police have arrested a 41-year-old Syrian man in connection with two fires in the western German city of Essen, where 30 people have been injured.
This is what the German news agency dpa writes on Sunday.
According to the police, fires broke out in two houses at different addresses in Essen within a short time of each other on Saturday evening.
Out of the 30 injured, eight people have been seriously injured – including two small children who are in a critical condition after smoke poisoning.
The actual arrest of the 41-year-old happened after an incident where a van drove into two shops.
This must have happened later on Saturday evening after the arsons.
No one was injured, the police said.
However, it could not say more about the suspect’s background or motive, writes dpa.
In addition, a spokesman for the police refuses to dpa to comment on reports that the 41-year-old also threatened people with a knife and a machete.
Several German media – including Bild and the local media WAZ – have brought videos where the 41-year-old is in possession of a machete.
The spokesman adds that the videos circulating on social media are being investigated by the authorities.
/ritzau/
Source: www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk
