Suspect arrested after allegedly setting fires and driving into shops in Germany

An apartment building after a fire in Essen, Germany (Thomas Banneyer/dpa via AP)

A man has been arrested after allegedly setting two fires in the western German city of Essen that left 30 people injured, and driving a van into two shops, authorities have said.

Emergency services were alerted to two fires in residential buildings in quick succession shortly after 5pm on Saturday, police said. The injured people included eight children who were seriously hurt, and two of them were in a life-threatening condition after inhaling smoke.