Police said the three had set fire to a mattress at the Markusovszky tér entrance to the building. 

The detectives questioned the three boys as suspects causing public danger leading to the death of a man. 

Budapest Police chief Tamás Terdik told reporters on Friday that the three boys had confessed to the charges and had apologised. 

Putting out the conflagration took three hours. As they were putting out the fire, fire-fighters found the body of a 47-year-old man from Veszprém.

College exams were suspended, as 165 students were staying in the college.

As at January 29 some Ft 24.5 million had been collected throughout the country to help the students and Ft 7.5 million was donated to the family of the deceased man. 

Classes will resume on February 18.

MTI Photo: Balogh Zoltán