▲ The scene of an apparent explosion inside a management office at an apartment complex in Sadong, Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do, at around 8:29 a.m. on the 23rd.
Testimony has emerged that a resident in his 70s, who was booked on charges of causing an explosion and fire at an apartment management office in Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do, had been at odds with management over apartment management regulations and a resident representative election.
According to reports, the resident recently ran in the resident representative election and lost, after which he caused a disturbance by breaking a ballot box. A related meeting was also scheduled for the day of the incident.
Police are investigating the exact motive behind the crime, suspecting that he may have committed the act after harboring grievances stemming from conflicts over apartment operations.
Police booked the resident in his 70s, identified as Mr. A, without detention on charges of arson resulting in injury to an inhabited building regarding the explosion at the apartment management office in Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do, which left eight people injured today (the 23rd).
Mr. A, who was found to have entered the management office carrying volatile substances just before the explosion, roamed around the apartment complex carrying a weapon immediately after the incident that left multiple injuries, before being subdued by dispatched police officers.
According to police and residents of the apartment, the explosion and fire, believed to have been caused by arson, occurred inside the management office of an apartment complex in Sadong, Gyeongsan, at 8:29 a.m. today, and was extinguished in about 20 minutes.
The accident injured eight men and women in their 40s to 70s (two men and six women), including apartment residents.
The injured include Mr. A. Because a senior citizens' center is located directly opposite the management office where the accident occurred, five elderly people who were reportedly staying there at the time also suffered burns.
According to police investigation results and resident testimonies, Mr. A escaped from the scene immediately after the fire broke out in the management office accompanied by a popping explosion sound. He then reportedly returned to his home, grabbed a weapon, and came back outside.
While wandering around the apartment complex shouting things like, "I'll kill you all," he encountered the dispatched police officers.
When police officers pointed their pistols and ordered him to drop the weapon, Mr. A complied and lay down on the floor, where he was immediately arrested at the scene.
Mr. A, who suffered full-body burns in today's explosion, is currently transferred to an intensive care unit at a specialized hospital in Daegu and is receiving treatment.
It has been reported that conflicts had previously existed between the apartment management office and some residents.
It was confirmed that residents had previously filed complaints with the Gyeongsan City Hall on multiple occasions.
A meeting between residents and management officials was also scheduled for today regarding management regulation issues.
This apartment complex is small in scale, meaning it is not required by law to operate a resident representative council.
In addition, the arson suspect reportedly ran in the recent election to select an apartment resident representative and lost.
It is reported that he caused a disturbance after losing the election, such as smashing a ballot box.
Based on the suspect's recent whereabouts and his behavior before and after the crime, police strongly suspect that he committed the act after building up grievances while experiencing conflicts with the apartment management office.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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