Hebei police have confirmed after an initial investigation that
arson was behind a fire at a karaoke bar last week in which 11
people were killed, the China News Service reported today.
A team of fire experts have combed over the debris at Gedu
karaoke bar and a foot massage parlor in Chengde County, Hebei Province, to look for flammable
materials including electrical equipment and sensors. They also
checked to see if the blaze was started by a cigarette.
They concluded the fire was ignited intentionally after their
tests ruled out other possibilities, an insider said.
The fire broke out in the southeast corner of the karaoke bar
and spread to the foot massage parlor, the report said. All victims
were in the karaoke bar.
Investigators did not found gasoline leak traces at the scene
although there was a motorbike near the bar.
The boss of the bar, surnamed Wang, has been detained and his
assets have been frozen.
The victims, 10 women and one man, were all about 20 years old
and worked in the bar. Relatives of the victims have received
compensation and the bodies have been cremated, said the
report.
(Shanghai Daily November 21, 2007)