Police seek arrest warrant for man over Seoul arson attacks that injured 19

Published Oct 21, 2026 9:48 pm KST

Updated Oct 21, 2026 11:55 pm KST

A man in his 70s, center, suspected of setting two buildings on fire consecutively and injuring 19 people, is escorted to Suseo Police Station in southern Seoul's Gangnam District, Tuesday. Yonhap

Police said Wednesday they have sought a formal arrest warrant for a man on suspicion of arson resulting in injury after he set fires at two buildings in southern Seoul earlier this week, leaving 19 people injured.

The suspect was taken into custody hours after setting fires at separate patent firms housed in the two buildings in Seoul's Gangnam District Tuesday. The incident left 19 people injured, including one who was rushed to a hospital in cardiac arrest.

The suspect told investigators that he bought two jerrycans, a lighter and flammable material near his home in western Seoul on Friday, according to the police.

He claimed the patent firms had defrauded him by issuing fake patent registration certificates, and that he had wanted to scare them and let the world know, the police said.

发布于2026年10月21日晚上9:48（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月21日晚上11:55（韩国标准时间）

周二，一名70多岁的男子（图中）被押送至首尔江南区水西警察署，他涉嫌连续纵火焚烧两栋建筑物，造成19人受伤。（韩联社）

警方周三表示，他们已向一名男子申请正式逮捕令，该男子涉嫌纵火致人受伤。本周早些时候，他在首尔南部纵火焚烧了两栋建筑物，造成 19 人受伤。

周二，嫌疑人在首尔江南区两栋办公楼内分别纵火焚烧了两家专利事务所，数小时后被警方逮捕。事件造成19人受伤，其中一人因心脏骤停被紧急送往医院。

据警方称，嫌疑人告诉调查人员，他于周五在首尔西部家附近购买了两个油桶、一个打火机和易燃物。

警方称，他声称专利公司通过颁发伪造的专利注册证书欺骗了他，他想吓唬他们，让全世界都知道这件事。