Police request arrest warrant against suspect of Uijeongbu fire

Regarding the fire at an apartment building in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, that left 130 people injured or dead, the Uijeongbu Police Station requested an arrest warrant Tuesday against a man who was driving a four-wheel motorcycle for the origin of fire and accidental homicide.

The man parked his motorcycle at the apartment`s parking lot at 9:13 a.m. on January 10, examined his vehicle for about a minute and then went up to his office. It was confirmed that he took a lighter from his pocket to melt the key box as the motorcycle key was stuck in the lock due to cold weather.

Police found this out by analyzing the CCTV and called the man into account who explained the situation. One minute after the man left the scene, fire broke out at the motorcycle, which spread to three apartment buildings, the parking tower and nearby houses. Four died and 126 people were injured.

Police assume that as the man heated the key box with the lighter the sheath of the wire melted, resulting a short circuit that caused fire. Yet the National Forensic Service is carrying out a detailed analysis of whether the lighter was the direct cause of fire. The investigation to determine a warrant`s validity will be held Wednesday at the Uijeongbu District Court.