According to reports (by reporter Liu Yang and correspondent Xin Zugu), a bus ticket seller got into a conflict with the company, and attempted to set fire to a vehicle using cigarettes but failed. Yesterday, it was learned that Zhao Ran, a 24-year-old from Beijing, is suspected of arson and has been prosecuted in the Chaoyang Court.
The prosecution charges that around 9 pm on October 8th last year, Zhao Ran had a dispute with the bus company due to work issues, which led to feelings of revenge.
Inside the Yangzha parking lot of the Fifth Team under the Fifth Passenger Transport Branch of the Bus Corporation, Zhao Ran intentionally placed four lit Zhongnanhai brand cigarettes on four seats to the right of the third door inside a parked bus, attempting to ignite the vehicle. When relevant staff members of the bus terminal discovered this, the burning cigarettes had already caused extensive charring and carbonization of two seats facing away from the door, and the interior panels directly above the seats were softened and deformed. Subsequently, the fire situation was quickly brought under control, avoiding a major fire, and no one was injured.
The prosecution believes that Zhao Ran disregarded national laws, deliberately set fire out of a desire for revenge, endangering public safety. Although serious consequences were avoided, he should still be held criminally responsible for arson. It is reported that the case will soon go to trial.