Police: Fatal apartment building explosion may have been deliberate

Police say they are leaning toward the view that a fatal explosion at an apartment building in the north Moravian town of Frenštát pod Radhoštěm on Sunday was caused deliberately by a resident. Police chief Martin Červíček said on Tuesday that he believed a serious criminal act had been committed. Another police representative said reports that a 62-year-old man who lived in the basement of the building had barricaded the doors had not been confirmed. The fire is thought to have broken out in different parts of the structure at the same time. At least five people were killed in the blast, including the suspected arsonist and three children. Two survivors are fighting for their lives in hospital.