Police have arrested a man over a suspected arson attack after fire broke out inside a train at one of Hong Kong's busiest subway stations during rush hour, injuring at least 17 people, including two who are in a critical condition.
A 60-year-old man surnamed Cheung, who was seriously injured in the incident, admitted he started the fire on Saturday (NZ time) while the train was headed to the busy Tsim Sha Tsui shopping district, district Police Commander Kwok Pak-chung told reporters.
Local media reported that Mr Cheung threw a flammable liquid inside a crowded train compartment.
"While he was on the way to the hospital he mentioned some personal reasons, but he was incoherent. What he said did not make much sense," Kwok said.
He said there was so far no information to suggest the incident could be described as an act of terrorism. The Counter Terrorism Response Unit which was patrolling nearby at the time of the incident was at the scene quickly to assist, he said.
Online media footage,showed people beating out the flames on a man's legs as he lay on the platform. Kwok told reporters the man, whose trousers appeared to be completely burned, was likely to be Cheung.
Another video showed flames burning several items scattered inside the train. It then showed a crowd on the platform who appeared calm as they pointed their phones at the fire. A fire alarm sounded in the station and a man could be heard shouting: "Let's go, let's go, let's go".
Hong Kong leader, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, said in a statement he was "highly concerned" about the incident and has asked the relevant departments to investigate.
Reuters
