Arson at apartment office injures 8 in South Korea; suspect arrested

A fire at an apartment management office in Gyeongsan, South Korea, has left eight people injured and led to the arrest of a 70-year-old resident. The suspect allegedly set fire to the office after becoming disgruntled over the results of apartment resident representative elections.

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There were three or four 'boom' sounds, and residents with fire on their bodies screamed and ran out of the management office.

The incident occurred around 8:29 a.m. on July 23, when the suspect, identified as A, entered the management office and spread flammable material before igniting it. The resulting explosion and fire engulfed the office and an adjacent senior center. Eight individuals, including men and women aged in their 50s to 70s, sustained burns. Three individuals suffered severe full-body burns and are in critical condition.

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I'm going to kill everyone.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene with multiple explosions, residents running out of the building with their clothes on fire, and others attempting to extinguish the flames. The suspect, who also sustained burns, was apprehended by police while causing a disturbance with a weapon near the scene, reportedly shouting threats.

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He repeatedly hurled insults and shouted at the residents and management office staff, threatening to file a counterclaim against the manager for embezzlement.

According to residents, A had run for auditor in the resident representative election the previous month but withdrew after facing accusations of election interference. He reportedly had ongoing conflicts with the newly elected representatives. The suspect had also previously filed complaints and was involved in disputes with management, including a recent argument that led to police intervention. The fire appears to be the culmination of these escalating conflicts.

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My wife said, 'I'll go take a look,' and went out, but she didn't come back for over 30 minutes.