[Anchor]
SBS has exclusively obtained CCTV footage capturing the exact moment a man in his 70s, surnamed Lee, set fire to two buildings in Seoul's Yeoksam-dong five days ago, injuring 19 people. The video clearly shows Lee searching for someone before igniting flammable substances. A representative from the patent corporation who decided to release the footage testified that Lee "clearly appeared to have intent to kill."
Sunday's 8 O'Clock News begins with this exclusive report by Im Jihyeon.
[Reporter]
This is CCTV footage capturing the entrance of a patent law firm office in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul.
It was 11:52 AM on the 20th.
Right after a female patent attorney, surnamed A, exited the office, the emergency staircase door next to the elevator opened, and a man appeared carrying yellow liquid-filled containers in both hands.
A short time later, when attorney A returned to the office, the two stood at the entrance and conversed for about 20 seconds.
[Victim Patent Corporation Representative: About four years ago, he came around 11:40 to 11:50, just before lunchtime when people are busiest. Just like before, he looked for the business manager he kept targeting.]
Shortly afterward, serial arsonist Lee, a man in his 70s who had told attorney A to go inside, placed one of the containers he was holding onto the floor and poured flammable substances.
Without hesitating even after that, Lee ignited the fire with a lighter.
Flames surged in an instant, and pitch-black smoke swallowed the entrance of the patent firm.
[Victim Patent Corporation Representative: I was working when I heard a popping sound outside. The ceiling melted entirely due to the smoke and heat.]
Immediately after the flames soared, Lee disappeared back through the emergency staircase door, holding another container of unpoured flammable substance in one hand.
The time it took for Lee to appear, start the fire, and leave was just over a minute.
On the floor where Lee set the fire alone, 8 people were injured and transported to the hospital, including 3 who sustained severe injuries.
[Victim Patent Corporation Representative: (Before Lee set the fire, the female employee) closed the door and went inside, and as she looked right into his eyes, he smiled. Isn't he a devil?]
Afterward, Lee immediately went to another patent firm office about 200 meters away and set fire to it, resulting in 1 cardiac arrest patient and 10 injured people there.
Both places where Lee set fire were the sole entrances and exits to the offices, but the police have detained Lee on charges of arson resulting in injury to an inhabited building and are continuing their investigation.
(Video filming: Kim Hyun-sang, Video editing: Kim Jun-hee, Design: Seo Seung-hyun)
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