[Exclusive] Random Arson in Residential Area... Woman in Her 30s Arrested and Sent to Prosecution

Arson of Privately Owned General Property and Attempted Arson of Existing Structures Charges

A woman in her 30s who set fire to three multi-family houses while roaming residential areas in Seoul has been handed over to the prosecution in custody.

On the 15th, the Jungnang Police Station in Seoul announced that they had sent Ms. A, a woman in her 30s, to the prosecution in custody on the 10th on charges of arson of her own general property and attempted arson of a building under current conditions.

According to the police, Ms. A is suspected of setting fire to a total of three places in succession while roaming multi-family houses and villas in the Mangwoo-dong area of Jungnang-gu, Seoul, around 5 p.m. on the 7th, and then fleeing.

It was investigated that Ms. A set fire to paper boxes or mail items. Fortunately, in all three places, residents discovered the fires and extinguished them within about 10 minutes without any casualties.

The police, who responded to residents' reports, arrested Ms. A on the spot as a suspect around 6:30 p.m. on the same day. It was confirmed that Ms. A was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crime.

The police judged Ms. A to be dangerous, considering that she continued the crimes consecutively within a day, although she had no prior criminal record, and detained her.

A police official explained, "Ms. A continuously denied the crimes during the investigation," adding, "We cannot confirm whether she has any mental illness history, but she was in a state that made it difficult to give normal statements."