Woman arrested in Hà Nội’s fatal fire incident

The scene of the fire. — VNA/VnExpress News Photo Trung Kiên

HÀ NỘI — A woman who allegedly caused a fire, killing one and injuring five others, was arrested by Nam Từ Liêm District Police on Friday.

Trần Thị Thanh Hải, 29, from Minh Thuận Commune, Vụ Bản District, the northern province of Nam Định, is suspected of causing the fire on Thursday night in Phú Đô Ward, Nam Từ Liêm District, in Hà Nội.

Initial investigation showed that at the end of 2019, Hải fell in love with Chẩu Việt Hoàng, 28, from Thương Lâm Commune, Lâm Bình District, the northern province of Tuyên Quang.

In January this year, Hải became pregnant by Hoàng, but Hoàng’s family would not agree to a marriage, which led to arguments.

Two months later Hoàng moved in with his cousin Hoàng Công Việt in Phú Đô Ward to avoid meeting Hải.

Hải became angry with Việt as she thought he prevented the relationship from continuing.

At about 3 pm on Thursday, Hải bought petrol and put it in a 1.5-litre water bottle. She went to Việt’s boarding house to meet Hoàng but the door was locked, so she left.

At 6 pm she returned with the petrol and set fire to Việt’s motorbike.

Police investigation showed that the fire occurred in a 20-metre parking ground of the house. The boarding house has a total area of about 170 square metres with six floors and 20 rooms.

The fire destroyed nine motorbikes and partially damaged several others.

The fire killed one person, N.T.M.A, 25, from Tản Lĩnh Commune, Ba Vì District in Hà Nội and injured five others, including four children. — VnExpress News

Trần Thanh Hải at the police station in Nam Từ Liêm District. — VNA/VnExpress News Photo