Paris hotel fire 'an accident'

2005-04-15 13:34

Paris - A deadly fire that swept through a central Paris hotel early on Friday, killing at least 20 people and injuring many others, was "undoubtedly accidental", say police.

A police source said investigators at the hotel "have not found, according to their preliminary tests, any evidence that would lead us to think that this was a criminal fire".

But, while the source qualified the blaze as "undoubtedly accidental", a source said the investigation would take time, given the fact that it was "impossible" to enter some parts of the hotel because of the risk of collapse.

At least 20 people, including 10 children died when the blaze swept the six-storey Paris-Opera hotel.

- AFP