One dead in flat siege as blast injures 12 emergency crew before special forces storm in and arrest man, 60, in Germany

COPS have arrested a man after finding a dead body in a dramatic flat raid following an explosion at an apartment block.

Police were sent to the high-rise building in the German town of Ratingen on Thursday morning after a resident noticed one of their neighbour's mailboxes overflowing.

But when officers tried to enter the flat there was a loud explosion.

Police then called firefighters to open the door to the smoking apartment where a mother and son lived.

They were met with a huge blaze, and Bild pictured an older man in a dirty grey shirt standing on his balcony as smoke poured out from behind him.

It is believed an unidentified object was detonated at the high-rise building when police arrived.

Petrol had been spilled on the floor of the apartment, fuelling the explosion, reports.

At least 12 people - ten firefighters and two police officers - were injured and eight are in a critical condition.

Cops have arrested a 60-year-old man in connection with the incident after a woman was found dead in the flat.

It is believe the woman - thought to be the mum of the man arrested - could have been dead for a long time, according to Bild.

Following the blast, gunshots were heard coming from the high-rise apartment, according to several witnesses.

Video shows police snipers approaching the apartment building in the small town in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany, around 12km northeast of Dusseldorf.

Special forces and firefighters were also seen entering the building.

Six emergency helicopters were spotted hovering over the scene following the blast.

It comes after a huge explosion rocked Milan after a van carrying oxygen tanks reportedly ignited.

Cops evacuated a nearby nursery and nursing home following the blast which sent black smoke pouring over the Italian city.

The blast took place in the Porta Romana area in the southeast of Milan at around midday local time.

At least four people have been injured, including one victim who suffered burns to his hand.

Italian media reports that the truck carrying the oxygen tanks was parked on a street corner when it exploded, triggering a further eight vehicles to go up in flames, including mopeds.

At least one injury has been confirmed after a victim suffered burns to their hand.