A 70-year-old resident, identified as A, has been charged with arson after a fire at the management office of an apartment complex in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province. Reports indicate that A had been in conflict with the management office over regulations and resident representative elections.
According to Yonhap News Agency, an explosion believed to be related to the arson occurred at 8:29 a.m. on July 23 in the management office of an apartment in the Sadong area of Gyeongsan.
The incident resulted in injuries to eight residents, aged between 40 and 70, including two men and six women. Among the injured was A, who reportedly entered the management office carrying flammable materials just before the explosion. Additionally, five elderly individuals who were at a senior center located directly across from the management office also suffered burn injuries.
Police investigations and witness statements revealed that A fled the scene immediately after the explosion. He later returned home, armed with a weapon, and began shouting while wandering around the apartment complex until he was apprehended by responding officers.
A, who sustained severe burns from the explosion, has been transferred to an intensive care unit at a specialized hospital in Daegu for treatment.
Authorities believe that A's actions stemmed from long-standing grievances with the management office, exacerbated by recent events. Tensions between the management office and some residents had been reported prior to the incident, with residents having filed multiple complaints with the Gyeongsan City Hall in the past.
Furthermore, A had recently run for a position in the resident representative election but lost. Following his defeat, he reportedly caused a disturbance by damaging the ballot box.
In a related note, B, a family member of one of the explosion victims, confirmed that all power connections for the CCTV cameras illuminating the apartment complex had been damaged since the evening of July 22.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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