An electric scooter accused of a violent fire killing four people in northeastern France
PARIS (AP) — Authorities said Saturday that four people were killed in a “extremely violent” fire, which appeared to be caused by battery-powered electric scooters – tore apart the 10-storey housing block in northeast France.
Prosecutor François Schneider said a 13-year-old man jumped into his death from a four-story apartment in Reims and began a fire in the early hours of Friday, and the body found inside was believed to be the body of his 15-year-old brother.
He said an 87-year-old woman lives on the 8th floor with her 59-year-old son, smoky and suffocated.
He said two people were seriously injured, including the dead boy stepfather, who were severely burned and 26 others received minor injuries at the hospital.
Schneider said the fire was “no doubt” accidental, spreading quickly from the scooter for unknown reasons.
Prosecutors said the battery fire was “extremely difficult to extinguish” and firefighters fought the fire for more than three hours.
