After the explosion, a cafe on the ground floor of an apartment building in Cologne burned to the ground. Residents in the Pesch district reported a loud explosion shortly before 3 a.m., police said. The cafe was soon engulfed in flames and its windows were shattered. Firefighters managed to put out the fire, but the building was badly damaged.
According to police, two residents of the high-rise apartment building suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene for suspected smoke inhalation. They were later released by rescue workers. No one was injured in the blast itself.
Explosion on the ground floor of an apartment building in Cologne
The building was evacuated once the fire was extinguished and residents were then able to return to their apartments.
There have been a series of explosions in Cologne in recent times. The actions are said to be motivated by gang conflicts. According to a police spokesman, it is still unclear whether the latest explosion is connected to the series.
