Arsonist sets fire on the Seoul Subway system

[Monty]

From Chosun Ilbo:

A fire believed to have been started by arson broke out on a Seoul Metro Line 5 train during the morning of May 31, injuring 21 passengers and prompting the evacuation of around 400 people, authorities said.

The blaze occurred at approximately 8:43 a.m. as the train was traveling between Yeouinaru and Mapo stations, according to officials. The fire broke out roughly 300 meters before the train reached Mapo Station. A report was filed at 8:44 a.m.

Passengers and the train operator used fire extinguishers onboard to suppress the flames before evacuating through the tunnel on foot.

The fire was fully extinguished by 10:24 a.m. A total of 230 personnel, including 166 firefighters and 60 police officers, along with 68 firefighting vehicles, were deployed to the scene.

The arsonist was caught.

Multiple reports had been made to authorities indicating that a man poured a flammable liquid on the train and set it alight. Police arrested the suspect, identified only as Mr. A, at 9:45 a.m. near Yeouinaru Station as he attempted to flee.

Mr. A, believed to be in his 60s, is being questioned in custody. He reportedly boarded the train carrying a fuel canister and used a torch-style lighter to ignite the fire. Police and fire authorities are inspecting the affected train car.

FYI, in 2003, an arsonist set fire in the Daegu subway system.

On 18 February 2003, the Daegu subway fire broke out when an arsonist set fire to a train during the rush hour, killing 192 people and injuring 148 people.

[Monty]

Updated to share article with video of the incident.

CCTV footage released by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office captures the moment a man lit a fire on a busy subway in the South Korean capital last month. The footage, from May 31, shows passengers running away after the suspect doused the floor of the train carriage with flammable liquid before setting it alight.

Reminder: nobody died, but six people were injuried.

[Eric1]

Bleep me, that was an awful fire! I couldn’t believe how the gas took off like that. It’s nice that they caught a suspect.

[Monty]

Suspect is the legal jargon. Culprit is who they caught. The trial will focus on why, not if.

[LSLGuy]

Now you know why TSA is so intent on limiting the amount of liquid anyone brings on an airplane.