Gwangju apartment arsonist detained — silent when asked why

A person in their 40s who set fire to an apartment building in an apparent suicide attempt, killing one person and injuring 13 others, has been taken into custody.

The Gwangju Northern Police Station detained the suspect, identified only as A, on Saturday on charges of arson of an inhabited building resulting in injury, according to Yonhap.

Gwangju District Court issued the arrest warrant sought by police, citing concerns the suspect might flee.

As A arrived at Gwangju District Court in Dong-gu for the pretrial detention hearing, the suspect gave no response when reporters asked why the fire had been set.

Wearing a hat pulled low and a mask covering the face, A said "I'm sorry" when asked after the hearing whether there was anything to say to the victims — the remark coming as A was escorted to a transport vehicle.

A was arrested on an emergency basis after allegedly starting a fire inside a sixth-floor unit of a 21-story apartment building in Unam-dong, Buk-gu, at around 6:33 p.m. Wednesday, killing one person and injuring 13 others.

A, who has a history of treatment for depression, told police during questioning that the fire was set out of a desire to die.

The fire was extinguished within 30 minutes, but a security guard in their 70s who had been helping residents evacuate was found in cardiac arrest. The guard was taken to hospital and died three days later.

Thirteen others, including rescue workers and neighbors, were also taken to hospital after inhaling smoke or reporting dizziness.

Police plan to upgrade the charges against A to arson of an inhabited building resulting in death, following the security guard's death on Friday.

Buk-gu authorities plan to discuss with the city government a formal application to have the security guard, who died while helping residents evacuate, designated as a person of righteous conduct.