1 suspect arrested after fire at Berlin's Alexanderplatz square

Police in Berlin have a arrested a person on suspicion of arson after a fire broke out at the German capital's central Alexanderplatz square, reported dpa, quoting a spokeswoman.

The person was detained near the scene of the fire, she said.

A fire broke out in the early hours of Monday in a storage room right underneath the overhead train tracks leading to Alexanderplatz train station.

According to the fire brigade, high flames and heavy smoke were billowing out of the 50-square-metre room. Thirty-two firefighters were deployed and brought the fire under control. Nobody was injured.

According to police, one or more rubbish bins near the station were set on fire first, before the flames sped through a window to the neighbouring storage room.

The smoke was dispersed by a ventilation system, meaning a burnt smell was noticeable at the railway station above.

Four neighbouring shops were so badly affected by smoke that they were unable to open on Monday.

The overhead railway lines were switched off during the extinguishing work. Local and long-distance train services were completely suspended between 3 am and 5 am.