Police arrest suspect in Seoul historic gate fire

[unhappycamper]

A crowd of onlookers clusters around the entrance to get a better look at the remains of the gate.


Police arrest suspect in Seoul historic gate fire
By Ashley Rowland and Hwang Hae-rym, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Wednesday, February 13, 2008

SEOUL — A 610-year-old landmark gate in downtown Seoul that survived wars and brutal foreign occupations to become the country’s highest-ranked national treasure burned down Sunday night in what police say was a likely arson case.

Police arrested a 70-year-old man, identified only by his family name Chae, Monday night on Ganghwa Island, west of Seoul, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing an unnamed police officer.

However, Yonhap quoted the officer as saying Chae was not the only suspect.

“Chae is one of several suspects,” the officer told the news agency.

Firefighters began arriving at Namdaemun — which means “Great South Gate” — at 8:50 p.m., about five minutes after the blaze first was reported, according to Jungbu District fire officials.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52410