An arson case occurred in Hoi Lai Village, Cheung Sha Wan in the early morning, and a lift was damaged and blackened.
According to on-site news, CCTV filmed someone pushing a trolley carrying flammable items into the building on the 12th floor, igniting it, and then leaving.
When the elevator descended to the second floor, flammable materials exploded and caught fire.
Investigators later found a 70-year-old man in his unit on the 12th floor hanging himself by the iron gate, and took him to the hospital. He is currently in critical condition.
This morning (3rd), the elevator maintenance personnel came to the scene for repairs, and the police criminal investigation team also came to the scene to understand the background of the old man.
After investigation, the police arrested the 70-year-old hanged man surnamed Long in Sham Shui Po District this afternoon on suspicion of arson.
It is understood that the police believe that the two cases are related. It is initially learned that the old man pushed the trolley from the 12th floor into the elevator before committing suicide. However, the suspect is still receiving treatment. The cause of suicide and the motive of the crime are still under investigation.
The blackened accessories of the lift that caused the accident were thrown away.
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At the scene, there are 3 elevators in Hai Rui Building of Hai Li Estate. The elevator involved in the accident can be connected from the underground to all floors of the building. It is currently parked on the second floor for repair.
It was badly blackened during the incident, some accessories fell off, and the trolley and canned compressed gas were moved to the elevator lobby on the second floor.
At 9:30 in the morning, maintenance personnel from the elevator company came to the scene and enclosed the elevator for inspection and maintenance.
On the other side, on the 12th floor, there were uniformed police officers guarding the hanged man's residence, and the criminal investigation team was also present. In addition to entering the house for investigation, they also asked the neighbors about the old man's family background.
On-site news said that after the fire in the elevator was extinguished, the investigators immediately looked at the CCTV and found that someone on the 12th floor pushed a trolley containing 3 cans of flammable materials, newspapers, paper and towels into the elevator, and set the towels on fire. and newspapers, then dropped the trolley and left; when the elevator fell to the second floor, an explosion occurred, making two loud bangs.
The staff then went to the 12th floor to investigate, and saw an old man hanged by the iron gate in the unit, and hurried in to untie him and send him to the hospital.
The criminal investigation team returned to the old man's residence this morning to investigate and found that there were many cans of flammable materials in his home.
The police officers were investigating in the hanged old man's unit, and a crutch was left outside the door.
(Photo by Huang Xuerun)
The old man, surnamed Long, is 70 years old. He was rescued and sent to the hospital. After rescue, he is currently in critical condition.
According to the neighbors, the uncle lives alone and suspects that he has mental problems. He often makes noisy noises late at night. The situation was acceptable in the past, but it started to get worse last Christmas.
Neighbors also pointed out that the uncle's unit is very dirty, and he does not wear a mask on weekdays, which is not hygienic.
Residents in their 70s were found to have hanged themselves during the arson investigation of the elevator at Hoi Lai Estate in Cheung Sha Wan