Police probe deadly fire at migrants' center in Paris

By Hajer M’tiri

PARIS

Parisian authorities are investigating a deadly blaze at a migrant workers’ center on Friday which killed one person and injured 13 others.

The fire broke out at the center in the western suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt early Friday morning, forcing people to jump from the six-story building’s upper windows.

A total of 250 people were evacuated, a spokesman for the Paris fire brigade, Eric Moulin, told Anadolu Agency.

Nanterre prosecutor's office said the fire started at around 3:30 a.m. (0230GMT).

Investigators and the fire department are working to determine whether the blaze was of “criminal origin”, Moulin said.

A hostel for homeless people in the French capital's nearby affluent 16th arrondissement was hit by arson twice this year, in November and October.

Another building earmarked for housing 90 migrants in Forges-les-Bains, south west of Paris, was also set on fire on Sept. 6.