A dispute over Ramadan meals led to the destruction of a shelter in a German migrant camp, causing £8m worth of damage, according to German investigators.

The building housed 282 asylum seekers in the city of Duesseldorf. Two North African men were arrested in conjunction with the fire on Tuesday and approximately 24 treated for smoke inhalation, according to Breitbart.

After a late evening meal was introduced to accommodate Muslims who fasted for Ramadan, a group of men who were not fasting complained their lunch portions were too small, according to the BBC. 

"We're look at this as the motive," said one German investigator.

However the German newpaper Express said the fire was caused after two Moroccan men accused Iranian staff of "deliberately" not waking those who were observing Ramadan, causing them to miss their pre-dawn meal.

Tension had mounted in the camp in the build up to Ramadan, according to local media, and the mood in the hall became worse as the fast started. One of men arrested in connection with the fire told local reporters: "We had to do it so that things would change."

Ralf Herrenbrueck, spokesman for the prosecutors service, said: "During this time of Ramadan, there was one group that wanted to strictly observe the fast, and another that insisted on the usual timetables and usual servings.

"This had led on several occasions to disputes and altercations with officials of the German Red Cross," he said in an interview with public broadcaster WDR.

"It got to the point where threats were made over what would happen if things didn't change, and that one threat was obviously implemented."

The fire was visible across the city as a large plume of smoke rose from the hall. Duesseldorf is now home to about 7,000 refugees and migrants,some of whom are Muslim and some Christian.