Two Arrested After Deadly Building Collapse In Eastern Germany

DRESDEN (Germany), June 8 (Bernama-dpa) -- Two suspected metal thieves have been arrested after a deadly building collapse in the eastern German city of Görlitz, police and prosecutors said on Sunday evening, reported German news agency dpa.

The suspects are accused of damaging or tampering with pipes inside the building, which collapsed on May 18, killing three people.

Investigators are examining suspected involvement in causing an explosion resulting in death, as well as negligent homicide.

According to current findings, the two suspects were in the area around the building on the afternoon of the collapse looking for items worth stealing, including bicycles, scrap metal and non-ferrous metals.

Police and prosecutors said the suspects had checked several front doors to see whether they could enter hallways or basements. The authorities said it was now known that the two men had also gained access to the building, which collapsed later that afternoon.

What happened after they entered the building remains under investigation. The probe has been complicated by the collapse and the initial need to clear the debris, meaning investigators have so far been unable to inspect the basement rooms.

Police spokesman Kai Siebenäuger told regional public broadcaster MDR that the suspects were a 27-year-old Polish national and a 33-year-old Afghan national. Both were already in pre-trial detention in connection with another matter.

Two Romanian tourists aged 25 and 26 died in the collapse, along with a 48-year-old Bulgarian-born man who also held German citizenship.

Investigators had previously suspected that a gas explosion caused the collapse.

--BERNAMA-dpa