Images show heavy fire in shopping center near Moscow, emergency services suspect fire has been set | Abroad

According to the authorities, the fire is raging in the shopping center of Khimki, a suburb on the north side of Moscow. Emergency services report that the fire broke out in the night from Thursday to Friday and now covers an area of ​​about 7,000 square meters. The huge flames could spread quickly because the roof collapsed. The fire brigade has been turned out en masse to extinguish the fire.

Some Russian state media suggest that it was deliberate arson, but in other media it is considered more likely that the fire started because the fire safety in the mall was not in order. There are more than 200 shops in the shopping center, which together account for more than 175,000 square meters of retail space.

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