Train fire suspect was attempting suicide, say police

A MAN accused of igniting the fire that engulfed two South Korean subway trains and killed at least 125 people was attempting to commit suicide, police said yesterday.

The suspect, Kim Dae-han, 56, has a history of mental illness and has told police “he decided to die with others in a crowded place, rather than die by himself”, said Lieutenant Cho Doo-won.

The disclosure of a possible motive in Tuesday’s attack came as criticism of the official response to the tragedy mounted.