9일 오후 3시42분께 서울 서초구 서울중앙지법 제4별관 1층 민사 집행관실 앞에서 민원인 김모(82)씨가 방화를 시도했다.
경찰과 소방당국에 따르면 김씨는 시너로 추정되는 인화물질을 집행관실 앞 바 닥과 접수 데스크에 뿌린 뒤 라이터로 불을 붙였다. 이 불은 11분 만인 오후 3시53 분께 출동한 구급대원들에 의해 꺼졌다.
김씨는 방화소동을 벌이는 동안 두 다리에 2도 화상을 입고 인근 병원으로 옮겨 져 치료를 받았다. 인근 사무실에 있던 사람들이 밖으로 대피하는 소동도 빚어졌다.
경찰과 법원 측은 명도소송 당사자인 김씨가 최근 자신 소유의 부동산이 강제집 행 당한 것에 불만을 품고 방화를 한 것으로 추정하고 있다.
법원은 관악구 소재 김씨의 부동산을 대상으로 지난달 두 차례 계고한 뒤 이달 5일 명도집행을 했다고 밝혔다.
김씨는 지인과 함께 이날 오후 3시 30분께 집행관 사무실을 찾아 명도집행에 항 의한 뒤 갑자기 가방에서 시너통을 꺼내 방화했다고 법원 관계자는 전했다.
김씨의 가방 속에는 부탄가스통 2개가 들어있었다.
경찰은 김씨를 공용건조물방화 혐의로 입건하고 자세한 경위를 조사하고 있다. (연합)
<관련 영문 기사>
Arson blamed for Seoul courthouse fire
Arson blamed for Seoul courthouse fire
An elderly man, who was initially reported to have set himself on fire at a Seoul courthouse, has turned out to have carried out an arson attack, officials said.
The incident took place at around 3:40 p.m. on Monday, when the 82-year-old man, identified only by his surname Kim, suddenly poured paint thinner on the reception desk and the floor on the first floor of a detached office of the Seoul Central District Court, located in southern Seoul, and started a fire, according to the court officials.
Kim is known to have been disgruntled with the execution of an eviction order last week.
The fire was extinguished in 11 minutes by firefighters. No casualties or damage has been reported except for the arsonist sustaining second-degree burns on his legs, the officials said.
Kim was rushed to a nearby hospital and is under a police investigation over deliberately setting fire to public buildings. (Yonhap)
The incident took place at around 3:40 p.m. on Monday, when the 82-year-old man, identified only by his surname Kim, suddenly poured paint thinner on the reception desk and the floor on the first floor of a detached office of the Seoul Central District Court, located in southern Seoul, and started a fire, according to the court officials.
Kim is known to have been disgruntled with the execution of an eviction order last week.
The fire was extinguished in 11 minutes by firefighters. No casualties or damage has been reported except for the arsonist sustaining second-degree burns on his legs, the officials said.
Kim was rushed to a nearby hospital and is under a police investigation over deliberately setting fire to public buildings. (Yonhap)