Suspicious blaze ruins 3 vehicles
1/9/2004 16:44
Police in Jiading District said they were investigating the cause of a
fire that destroyed three vehicles yesterday.
An angry wife allegedly set
fire to her husband's minibus yesterday morning in Anting Township, Jiading
District. Another two vehicles parked nearby also burned as strong winds carried
the flames, Xinmin Evening News reported yesterday afternoon.
Police,
however, said they have not confirmed the nature of the case because "the
suspected arsonist claimed it was an accident."
The woman said she was
smoking near the minibus and the blaze was caused by a burning cigar butt,
according to a police officer from Jiading District Public Security
Bureau.
Authorities refused to provide any information about the migrant
couple. Witnesses said the incident occurred about 3am yesterday when the man,
who played mahjong that night, returned home.
"The husband had just stopped
the vehicle when the wife stormed into the parking lot," said a neighboring
resident surnamed Gu.
A big quarrel broke out and some residents in Yulan
residential area woke up from the noise and called police.
The couple was
persuaded to go home and police thought they had resolved the
situation.
But the woman returned several minutes later. It was not
long before her husband's minibus was on fire.
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