Man killed in explosion at German refugee centre was from Ethiopia

Police say the person who died in a fire at a refugee centre in northern Germany on Monday was a 28-year-old man from Ethiopia.

The man’s body was found in a room at the facility in the town of Buchholz in the state of Lower Saxony on Monday after an explosion caused a fire. Investigators believe he probably caused the explosion himself, the police said in a statement on Tuesday.

A decision on whether to carry out a post-mortem examination would be taken after consultations with the public prosecutor’s office, the statement said. The investigation is currently focusing on the motive and background to the incident.

Twenty people were injured in the fire, including a police officer. His life is not in danger, but he is suffering from severe burns and is in intensive care, the police statement said.

The other injured people, including residents of the temporary housing units, were treated on site, and some were then taken to hospital.