Couple killed in fire; woman’s son and ex-husband arrested

Police on Tuesday arrested a soldier and his father on suspicion of criminal negligence in the deaths of a couple in a blaze that was apparently caused by explosive materials stored in their house.

The couple, both said to have been in their 50s, were declared dead by emergency services in the wreckage of their home in the southern city of Arad on Monday.

The dead woman was the mother of the soldier and the ex-wife of his father.

The soldier was living with his mother at the time of the fire.

After the blaze was extinguished, police discovered explosive materials of various kinds in a room at the apartment, as well as in a large explosives laboratory in a storeroom at the soldier’s father’s home, police said in a statement.

Explosives experts remained at the site into the early morning to take the laboratory apart and collect evidence, the police statement added.

The soldier and his father are suspected of producing illegal fireworks.

There were two explosions at the apartment, according to the Ynet news site, which speculated said that the couple was killed either by the blaze or by the shock waves caused by the explosion.

The bodies of the victims have been sent for autopsy and the police were due Tuesday to request that the suspects be remanded in custody.