A fire that broke out on Saturday evening in a Brussels hotel may be of criminal origin, according to local police.
Around 10:30 PM, police were alerted to a fire at the Manhattan Hotel, located at 140 Adolphe Max Boulevard.
“Several teams of police and firefighters were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they found flames visible on the third floor,” Linda Camarero-Verde, spokesperson for the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police confirmed.
Emergency services and the police established an advanced medical post in a nearby hotel.
“In total, around 80 people were evacuated, with many temporarily relocated to nearby hotels. Due to the quick and efficient response by the firefighters, no one was injured,” Camarero-Verde said.
“Evidence suggests that the fire may have been criminally instigated. The exact circumstances and causes of the fire are still under thorough investigation.”
The Brussels public prosecutor’s office has been notified and an investigation has been launched.
An expert from the prosecutor’s office and a forensics lab visited the site on Sunday.
