Yeoksam-dong arson suspect bought jerry cans and flammable materials in advance, admits to planning the crime

[Financial News] The suspect in a series of arson attacks in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, is believed to have planned and prepared the crimes in advance. The suspect said he set the fires because he believed two patent firms had defrauded him, including by issuing false patent registration certificates.
On the 21st, Suseo Police Station in Seoul said police questioned A, a man in his 70s suspected in the arson case that occurred in Yeoksam-dong the previous day, overnight. A largely admitted to the crimes during questioning.
Police said their investigation found that, before the crimes, A prepared by buying two plastic jerry cans, a lighter and flammable materials near his residence on the 16th. On the day of the crimes, he took a taxi from his residence to the scene, the investigation found.
A told police that he had set the fires because he believed two patent firms had defrauded him, including by issuing false patent registration certificates. He wanted to intimidate the firms and make the facts known to the public, according to his account.
Indeed, at around 6:15 p.m. the previous day, as A was entering Suseo Police Station, he shouted to reporters asking about his motive, “Because a patent law firm swindled me.”
The first fire in this incident broke out at around 11:54 a.m. the previous day on the third floor of Shinmyeong Building in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu. The fire in the building, which has two basement levels and seven floors above ground, sent 11 people to the hospital. Two were seriously injured and nine sustained minor injuries.
Seven minutes after the first fire, at around 12:01 p.m., another fire broke out at Hanyang Building, about 170 meters away in a straight line. The fire started on the fourth floor of the building, which has two basement levels and 10 floors above ground. Eight people were injured and taken to the hospital. The fires at the two buildings injured 19 people in total.
Police confirmed that patent firms were located on the floors where the fires began in both buildings. A patent firm was located on the third floor of Shinmyeong Building, where the fire started, while patent firms occupied floors three through five of Hanyang Building, including the fourth floor where that fire began. Police believe A harbored a grudge against the firms and carried out the series of arson attacks.
Police plan to conduct a second examination of the fire scenes this morning. They intend to use the additional examination to determine the exact points of origin and how the fires started.
Police also plan to question A a second time and seek an arrest warrant later today. They will also take protective and support measures, including assistance with victims’ medical expenses.
[email protected] Lee Dong-hyeok Reporter