A Mechelen investigating judge has arrested a 34-year-old for arson at a house in Puurs Sint-Amands, in the Flemish province of Antwerp, De Standaard reports.
As previously reported, a house fire killed two children, aged four and eight, in the municipality on Sunday evening. The blaze also seriously injured the mother and a local resident who attempted to assist in the rescue.
The fire fiercely and swiftly spread through the property to the upper floor of the building where the two children were located.
The man, who is the father of the deceased children, appeared before a magistrate today, suspected of committing arson. The man was discovered in nearby Buggenhout on Monday afternoon. Investigators immediately considered him as a suspect and searched for him immediately following the fire. He could not immediately be found.
The man appeared before the court wearing white overalls. His clothes have been seized as evidence of the arson.
It is not yet sure if the suspect has confessed to the crime. “The investigating judge has ruled that there are sufficient indications to arrest him. I cannot give details about the investigation or what my client has stated because of the secrecy of the investigation,” lawyer Bart Vosters said after the hearing. “A lot of additional research still needs to be done.”
