Germany: Fire kills 3 Indian nationals,man arrested on murder suspicion

In Germany, three Indian nationals were killed in a fire at a residential building in Bochum city, local media reported on Wednesday. The victims were two women aged 25 and 27, and a 26-year-old man, all Indian nationals, German public broadcaster WDR (Westdeutscher Rundfunk) reported, citing details released by Bochum police. Five other people were also injured in the incident that occurred early Tuesday. Their nationalities and other details were not specified in the media reports."Embassy of India in Berlin and Consulate General of India in Frankfurt are in contact with local authorities and the bereaved families, and are extending all necessary assistance. The incident is under investigation by German authorities. We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief," the embassy said.

Three Indian nationals (two women and one man) have tragically lost their lives in a fire incident in Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. All 3 were studying in Germany. Embassy of India in Berlin and Consulate General of India in Frankfurt are in contact with local authorities and the bereaved families, and are extending all necessary assistance. The incident is under investigation by German authorities. We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. @MEAIndia

— India in Germany (@eoiberlin) October 14, 2026

Police have arrested a 41-year-old resident of the building on suspicion of murder. He is a Romanian national, German news channel n-tv reported, citing the German Press Agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA).Investigators have ruled out a technical defect as the cause of the fire and suspect arson, but whether the fire was deliberately set or started accidentally remains under investigation. The fire broke out early on Tuesday in a multi-family residential building in Bochum's Hofstede district. Emergency services were alerted around 4.15 am local time.Germany's public broadcaster NDR reported that police had been called to the building on Sunday, a day before the fire, in connection with a dispute. It also reported that officers had responded to repeated incidents at the property earlier.
Firefighters found the three victims dead in an apartment on the second floor. The five injured people suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to hospitals in Bochum.It was difficult for the firefighters to enter the apartments because the fire had spread upwards through the stairwell. This prevented the firefighters from using it to reach residents on the upper floors.