German teen sets fire to mum's new home, because he did not want to move

An unnamed teenager was arrested after police say he blew up his mother’s new apartment so they would not have to move.

The teen was arrested the day after a huge blaze broke out in an apartment in the north German town of Velen.

The teen, who hasn't been named, was arrested on Tuesday the day after a huge blaze broke out in an apartment in the north German town of Velen.

Police say he covered the flat in gasoline before setting it alight, causing an explosion which destroyed five other homes and two shops.

A 69-year-old woman who lived in one of those homes had to be hospitalised from smoke inhalation, a local newspaper reported.

Police say the boy torched the apartment because he did not want to move there from his old home in Borken, located a 15 minute drive away.

He was tracked down after witnesses described seeing him leave the scene in a car.