Man arrested for setting fire to cafe, killing 11 in Hà Nội

The scene of the fire at a café located on Phạm Văn Đồng Street, Bắc Từ Liêm District in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photos Phạm Tuấn Anh

HÀ NỘI — The Hà Nội City Police Investigation Agency on Thursday morning announced its decision to initiate legal proceedings and detain a man with two prior convictions to investigate and handle his act of setting fire to a café, which resulted in multiple fatalities in Bắc Từ Liêm District late Wednesday night.

C.V.H., 51, residing in Đại Mạch Commune, Đông Anh District, was accused of murder. The suspect had two prior convictions for robbery and theft.

Authorities retrieve the bodies of victims from the fire scene.

At 11.03pm on Wednesday, the 114 Emergency Command Centre of the Hà Nội City Police received a report about a café fire at No.258 Phạm Văn Đồng Street, Cổ Nhuế 2 Ward, Bắc Từ Liêm District, with multiple people trapped inside.

The police immediately deployed firefighting and rescue forces, including the Fire and Rescue Police, and police from Bắc Từ Liêm, Nam Từ Liêm, Cầu Giấy, Thanh Xuân, and Tây Hồ Districts, to the scene to coordinate with local authorities and residents in firefighting and rescue efforts.

Numerous motorbikes are destroyed in the fire.

Lieutenant General Nguyễn Hải Trung, Director of the Hà Nội City Police, was present at the scene to directly oversee the rescue and firefighting operations. Bùi Thị Minh Hoài, Secretary of the city’s Party Central Committee, also arrived at the scene to direct local authorities, city departments and relevant agencies to promptly addressing the aftermath of the fire.

By 11.40pm the same day, the fire was brought under control.

Firefighting and rescue forces quickly arrive at the scene to extinguish the fire.

Firefighters found 11 dead people and managed to rescue seven individuals, of whom five were in stable condition and two were taken to the hospital for emergency treatment.

Initial investigations by the police showed that the café was intentionally set on fire. The suspect was swiftly identified and arrested at approximately midnight on Thursday.

Bùi Thị Minh Hoài, Secretary of the city’s Party Central Committee, arrives at the scene.

At the police station, C.V.H. initially confessed that after drinking beer at the café, he got into an argument with the staff. He then purchased gasoline, poured it onto the first floor of the café where multiple motorcycles were parked, and set it on fire.

After seeing the flames spread, he fled the scene.

By 11.40pm the same day, the fire is brought under control.

Trung, the Director of the Hà Nội City Police, has ordered the Investigation Agency to quickly investigate and clarify the motives of the crime. The victims’ identities are also being verified.

Additionally, he has directed relevant units and Bắc Từ Liêm District Police to coordinate with city departments and agencies to visit and provide assistance to the victims' families.— VNS