In a Fit of Rage... Yeongdeungpo Serial Arsonist Sent to Prosecution

2 Casualties... "We Are Sorry"

At around 8 a.m. on the 22nd, Mr. A, wearing a black cap and blue training suit, came out of the detention center at Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul with his head bowed deeply. When reporters asked, "Do you have anything to say to the victims and their families?" he said, "I'm sorry."
Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] A man in his 30s suspected of setting multiple fires in the Yeongdeungpo district, resulting in two casualties, has been sent to prosecution in custody.

On the morning of the 22nd, the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul applied charges of arson causing death to the 30-year-old male suspect A and sent him to the Southern District Prosecutors' Office in custody.

At around 8 a.m. that day, wearing a black cap and blue tracksuit and with his head bowed deeply, A came out of the detention center and responded to reporters' questions asking, "Do you have anything to say to the victims and their families?" with "I'm sorry." When asked, "Did you set any other fires?" he replied, "No." Afterwards, A boarded a transport vehicle and was taken to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office.

A is suspected of setting fire to a two-story commercial building in Singil-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu at 11:05 p.m. on the 14th, and then setting fire to a four-story commercial building in Yeongdeungpo-dong at 3:23 a.m. on the 15th, causing the death of one person.

Judge Ko Jongyoung of the Seoul Southern District Court issued an arrest warrant on the 16th during the pre-arrest detention hearing for A, citing "concerns that A might flee."

During police investigation, A stated that he entered the two commercial buildings he set on fire with the intent to steal money and explained his motive as having set the fires out of frustration with the world. At the time of the crimes, A was intoxicated, and it was confirmed that he was still intoxicated when he was urgently arrested near the scene around 6 a.m. that day.

According to the police, A did not know the male victim in his 60s who died in the fire. It was also revealed that the crimes were not committed due to any grudge or personal conflict.

The second fire set by A resulted in the death of a man in his 60s who was on the third floor of the Yeongdeungpo-dong building, while a woman in her 70s rescued from the fourth floor inhaled smoke and received hospital treatment. It was also reported that one firefighter was injured during the fire suppression efforts. The first fire was quickly extinguished without spreading widely and caused no casualties.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.