After a deliberate explosion in the city of Ratingen near Dusseldorf, 5 fire and rescue workers went into an artificial coma Friday, according to the Ratingen Fire Department.
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The authorities had transported the injured firefighters to specialized burn clinics in several cities in and around Dusseldorf.
“Colleagues sustained burns on up to 40 percent of their bodies,” the fire department said.
Earlier, the authorities issued an arrest warrant for the suspect on nine counts of attempted murder, the police and the Dusseldorf public prosecutor’s office said Friday.
Police said the blast in a high-rise building on Thursday was perpetrated in a malicious and fatal manner.
Dietmar Henning of the Dusseldorf police said on Friday that a resident opened the door to the apartment and deliberately set fire to a container containing flammable liquids, and then threw it at the police forces, the fire department and emergency services.
“Emergency personnel, who caught fire, left the scene,” Henning said.
Police said a 25-year-old policewoman and a 29-year-old police officer were seriously injured and seven firefighters were seriously injured.
In all, 33 people were injured in the blast, according to authorities.
Dusseldorf police chief Heike Schultz said the suspect had not yet commented during his interrogation on Friday about the accusations against him.
The accused (57 years old) waived his right to obtain legal aid, and a public defender was appointed for him.
