Suspected arsonist arrested following fatal fire in New Taipei

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/11/23
By: Lin Chang-shun and Y.F. Low 

Taipei, Nov. 23 (CNA) A man suspected of arson was arrested early Thursday in the wake of a fire at an apartment building in New Taipei’s Zhonghe District that left nine people dead and two injured, police said.

Police said they tracked down the suspect, identified as a 49-year-old man surnamed Li (李), based on surveillance camera footage obtained from the neighborhood and information provided by neighbors.

An initial investigation revealed that Li recently had an argument with a resident on the fourth floor of the building and allegedly set the fire shortly thereafter, police said.

Having prepared a bottle of gasoline several days earlier and hidden it in the building’s stairway, Li on Wednesday night poured the gas over lumber piled in the stairway and ignited the fire with a lighter, according to police.   [FULL  STORY]