South Korea: Police apprehend arson suspect in subway fire after hundreds escape through tunnel

Police on Saturday apprehended a man in his 60s for suspected arson inside a Seoul subway train that prompted hundreds of passengers to evacuate through a tunnel, officials said. 

According to police and witnesses, the suspect allegedly set fire to pieces of clothes inside the Line No. 5 subway traveling between Yeouinaru and Mapo stations at 8.47 am after boarding the train with a lighter-type torch and a fuel container, Korean news agency reported.

More than 400 passengers escaped through the tunnel, with 21 of them being sent to the hospital for injuries, such as smoke inhalation and a fractured ankle. No serious injuries have so far been reported.

Passengers and the train conductor initially contained the flames with fire extinguishers before they were fully extinguished at about 10.24 am. Authorities dispatched 230 personnel, including firefighters and police officers, to the scene.

The suspect was taken into custody by police near Yeouinaru Station at 9.45 am after being on the run.

Subway services between Yeouido and Aeogae stations were suspended for awhile before resuming at 10:06 am.

Police plan to question the suspect about the motive and conduct a forensic examination of the scene.

Investigations are currently underway, and authorities are actively looking into the matter. Further details are awaited.

(This story was taken from a syndicated feed and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital team)