Suspect held in deadly KTV fire
Police have detained a suspect in the fire at a KTV bar that killed 18 people and injured five early on Tuesday in Yingde, Guangdong province.
Liu Chunlu, 32, was detained at his home in Yingde, city officials said.
Liu, a native of Yingde, is accused of blocking the entrance of Languifang, the KTV bar, with a motorcycle. Police said he set the vehicle on fire after a fight with other people who were not identified. He also admitted to setting the fire, police said.
“I was drunk last night and had fought with unknown people,” police said Liu told them.
The fire was reported at around half past midnight and was extinguished by 12:55 am, according to the public security bureau of Qingyuan, which administers Yingde.
Not all of the dead had been identified by late Tuesday. The five injured were treated at Yingde People’s Hospital.
A team led by Li Wei, viceminister of public security, was dispatched, along with another team from the Ministry of Emergency Management to guide the investigation and handling of the case.
Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi required all-out efforts in treating the injured and doing relief work, and quick progress in solving the case.
Luo Yongshi contributed to this story.