Arrest Warrant Hearing Today for Yeoksam-dong Serial Arsonist... Attempted Murder Charge Under Review

[Anchor]

The arrest warrant hearing for a man in his 70s, identified as Mr. A, who allegedly set consecutive fires at two buildings in the middle of Gangnam, Seoul, will be held this afternoon (October 22). As authorities are also reviewing the application of attempted murder charges, Mr. A's detention status is expected to be decided as early as today.

Reporter Kim Minjun has the details.

[Reporter]

[(When did you start planning the crime?) About three days. (Do you have anything to say to the victims?) Tell them not to scam people anymore.]

Mr. A is reportedly known to have largely admitted to the charges during police questioning on the day of the crime, stating that he set the fires to intimidate a patent corporation he believed had deceived him and to make the matter known to the public.

The arrest warrant hearing for Mr. A, a man in his 70s charged with injuring 19 people by setting fires at two buildings in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, will be held at 3 p.m. today at the Seoul Central District Court.

Police applied for an arrest warrant last night, considering that Mr. A had been released from prison not long ago, and given his travel route after the crime and unstable residential status, there is a risk of flight.

According to the police investigation, it was found that Mr. A cancelled his mobile phone five days before the crime, purchased flammable substances and plastic containers four days before the crime, and bought gasoline at a gas station the day before the crime.

Mr. A reportedly exercised his right to remain silent during the second suspect interrogation yesterday, and it is also known that during the first interrogation, he largely admitted to the arson itself but denied any intent to kill.

To check for any history of psychiatric illness, the police are attempting to secure medical records, while also reviewing whether to apply charges of attempted murder targeting a specific individual, based on witness statements that he searched for an employee before setting the fires.

(Video Editing: Yoon Tae-ho)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.