Cao Van Hung, 51, was arrested by the Hanoi police on Thursday to be investigated for murder.
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Cao Van Hung at a police station in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of An Ninh Thu Do |
Hung came to a café on Pham Van Dong Street, a place where people gather to sing each other, at around 9 p.m. on Wednesday. He came alone to drink beer and then had a dispute with a group of seven customers, he told the police.
The group then settled the dispute on the street. Hung, after getting beat up, went to a market to buy a bucket, and to a store to buy the gasoline.
At around 11 p.m., Hung rode on a taxi back to the coffee shop. He stopped around 30 meters from the facility, splash the bucket of gasoline onto motorbikes parked in front of the shop and lit them up.
Authorities said the flames quickly spread.
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A coffee shop in Hanoi is burned down, Dec. 19, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Chieu |
At the time of the fire, there were more than a dozen people inside the facility, but several people could not get out as the flames have blocked the main exit.
They ran into the restrooms or to upper floors.
The fire was put under control at around 11:40 p.m. 11 people died as a result, with five bodies found inside one restroom on the first floor. Seven people were rescued and four of them are treated in hospital.
Authorities have not releaved the identities of the dead victims.