DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
German news & articles
German man arrested after explosion in NRW flats
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

German man arrested after explosion in NRW flats

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Düsseldorf pizzeria found selling cocaine as “Pizza No. 40”Düsseldorf pizzeria found selling cocaine as “Pizza No. 40”
German supermarket finds 7-million-euro cocaine stash among bananasGerman supermarket finds 7-million-euro cocaine stash among bananas
Solingen stabbing suspect confesses to policeSolingen stabbing suspect confesses to police
Tornado risk and storm warnings issued for Saturday night in GermanyTornado risk and storm warnings issued for Saturday night in Germany
Warning day: NRW to test sirens on March 14Warning day: NRW to test sirens on March 14
February 2024: 14 changes affecting expats in GermanyFebruary 2024: 14 changes affecting expats in Germany
Transport disrupted as heavy snow storms expected across GermanyTransport disrupted as heavy snow storms expected across Germany
 DWD red weather warning means Germany could face fresh floods DWD red weather warning means Germany could face fresh floods
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usImpressumSitemapRSS feeds
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
May 12, 2023
Olivia Logan

Editor at IamExpat Media

Editor for Germany at IamExpat Media. Olivia first came to Germany in 2013 to work as an Au Pair. Since studying English Literature and German in Scotland, Freiburg and Berlin she has worked as a features journalist and news editor.Read more

Police have arrested a German man after he caused an explosion and set fire to a block of flats in North Rhine-Westphalia on Thursday morning, injuring many emergency workers.

Man causes explosion and sets fire to housing block in Germany

German police were called to a block of flats in Ratingen, North Rhine-Westphalia on Thursday mid-morning after receiving a distress call from a “helpless person” claiming that there was a fire in their building.

When emergency services and 10 firefighters arrived at the scene the 57-year-old man was inside his flat with the door open. This is when the explosion went off. After setting off the explosion, he went further into the flat and set the house on fire, wounding 24 emergency services employees.

"The man, after he caused this explosion, closed the door again, retreated and started to set the place on fire," NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul told WDR. According to German tabloid Bild, the house had been doused in petrol before the explosion.

Suspect is a possible coronavirus denier

When emergency services did enter, the body of an older woman was also found. She is thought to be the mother of the suspect, who police say had died long before the explosion. 

According to reports by SPIEGEL, the suspect was a coronavirus denier, though these claims have not yet been confirmed by police. The man had been in trouble with the police before, but only for minor offences. 

Thumb image credit: Animaflora PicsStock / Shutterstock.com

By Olivia Logan