France: Arson attack in Nice leaves several dead
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Seven people, including three children and a teenager, have died in a fire in a flat in the southern French city of Nice. Authorities added that three people were being sought in connection with the deadly fireThe fire, which police believe was arson, tore through a top-floor apartment in a block of flats in the western suburb of Moulins at about 3 a.m. local time on Thursday morning.
Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli later said investigators were looking into a “criminal” cause for the fire.
“In light of the initial evidence, I have opened an investigation into acts of arson leading to death,” he told reporters at the scene.
First Deputy Mayor of Nice, Anthony Borre, said on X that “These actions are serious, they are barbaric.” He added he hoped for “a strong response” by the authorities once the investigation was over.
“The footage clearly shows hooded people spreading petrol in the stairwell,” said Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, offering his condolences to “a family who were innocent victims of a war in which they weren’t involved,” referring to a local turf war between drug gangs.
