The suspect behind two fires that broke out seven minutes apart at two buildings in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, earlier today (the 20th) has been apprehended by police.

Police stated that they apprehended a man in his 70s near Dongmyo Station in Seoul at around 4:16 p.m. today.

Earlier, fires were reported at around 11:54 a.m. today on the third floor of the Shinmyeong Building in Yeoksam-dong, and at about 12:01 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Hanyang Building located some 200 meters away.

According to fire authorities, the two fires injured a total of 19 people, including one person in cardiac arrest, five seriously injured, and 14 with minor injuries, while about 60 people inside the buildings evacuated on their own.

Fire authorities issued a Level 1 response and completely extinguished the fires at the Shinmyeong Building around 2:20 p.m. and at the Hanyang Building around 12:35 p.m.

Police plan to investigate the 70-year-old suspect regarding the motive for the crime, the exact cause of the fires, and the connection between the two incidents.


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