# Fatal apartment fire in Bochum, Germany

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/fatal-apartment-fire-in-bochum-germany
> Updated: 2026-10-22T06:51:03.000Z. Sources: 37. Developments: 3.

A fatal fire in a multi-family residential building in the Hofstede district of Bochum, Germany, resulted in the deaths of three Indian nationals. The victims, identified as students living in Germany, include Nova Sabu, Anjali Sheela Joy, and Sivin Johny (previously identified as Sween Johny). The three had moved into their second-floor apartment on Poststrasse only two weeks prior to the incident.

Emergency services rescued several individuals from the blaze, who were treated for smoke inhalation. One international student was reported to be in critical condition. Rescue efforts were complicated by flames spreading rapidly through the building’s wooden stairwell, which blocked the primary evacuation route and necessitated the use of ladders and safety cushions to reach residents on upper floors.

Following the incident, police arrested a 41-year-old Romanian national residing in the same building on suspicion of murder and arson. Investigators believe the fire was intentionally started by setting several children's strollers on fire in the building's hallway. Authorities have ruled out technical defects or short circuits as the cause. The suspect, who reportedly has a criminal history involving aggression and property crimes, is currently in custody and being interrogated by a homicide commission.

The Indian Embassy in Berlin and the Consulate General in Frankfurt are coordinating with local German authorities to provide assistance to the bereaved families. In India, the Kerala state government has initiated steps to repatriate the bodies of the victims, who were natives of Kerala.

## Claims

- Investigators ruled out a technical defect as the cause of the fire. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- A 41-year-old Romanian resident of the building was arrested on suspicion of murder and arson. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- Three Indian nationals, including two women and one man, died in the fire. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- Five other people were injured in the fire, suffering from smoke inhalation. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The fire occurred in the early morning of Tuesday, October 13, 2026, in the Hofstede district. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Police responded to disputes at the building two days before the fire occurred. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-22: Bochum police arrest man suspected of causing fatal apartment fire

A Romanian man is suspected of starting an intentional fire in a Bochum, Germany, apartment building that killed three Indian students and injured five others.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bochum-police-arrest-man-suspected-of-causing-fatal-apartment-fire

### 2026-10-14: Bochum fire: Three Indian students killed, resident arrested for murder

Three Indian students died in a suspected arson fire in Bochum, Germany. A 41-year-old Romanian resident has been arrested on suspicion of murder as investigators rule out technical causes.

23 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bochum-resident-arrested-after-fatal-apartment-fire

### 2026-10-12: Bochum apartment fire results in three deaths

Three people died and five were injured by smoke inhalation after a suspected arson fire broke out in a Bochum apartment building.

14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bonn-apartment-fire-injures-three-people-in-tannenbusch

---
Cite as: Fatal apartment fire in Bochum, Germany. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/fatal-apartment-fire-in-bochum-germany