Gas canisters were found in an apartment where a blast occurred early on Friday in the eastern German city of Blankenburg, killing one person and injuring 11 others, one of them severely, the city's mayor said.
The deceased victim was believed to be a 78-year-old man who was renting the property where the canisters were found, officials said at a press conference, though this could not be confirmed until the body had been retrieved.
Another victim had been taken to hospital with severe burn wounds. Several policemen had been treated for smoke inhalation.