Kim Seok-ki
Seoul Police Agency chief |
By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
The prosecution tentatively concluded that Molotov cocktails thrown by protestors were responsible for the fire that killed six people in Tuesday's standoff between police and former tenants protesting a redevelopment project in Yongsan, central Seoul.
But bereaved families of the victims, civic groups and opposition parties have demanded that Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief Kim Seok-ki resign to take responsibility for the tragedy.
Kim was recently nominated as commissioner general of the National Police Agency.
A Cheong Wa Dae official said the presidential office maintains the principle that prioritizes a thorough investigation to find what caused the incident. ``We have not decided whether to withdraw Kim's nomination, but we are discussing it,'' he said.
About 40 former tenants made the Molotov cocktails during a sit-in at a five-story building in the residential and shopping district, demanding more compensation to leave it. Police mobilized a SWAT team to evict them early Tuesday but a fire broke out, killing six, including a police officer, and injuring 23.
The protesters were keeping some 1,200 liters of paint thinner in a lookout post they had set up on the top of the building, and had made about 120 Molotov cocktails.
``When the tenants were chased by the SWAT team to the top of the building, the Molotov cocktails were ignited,'' a prosecutor said.
``We don't think the tenants intentionally threw the Molotov cocktails at police officers. They may have dropped them by mistake or thrown them unconsciously. But all of the protesters are responsible for the fire, as they knew it would be dangerous to use Molotov cocktails in the post where inflammable material was being stored,'' the prosecutor said.
The prosecution Thursday sought arrest warrants for six of the occupiers who were taken to a police station after the incident for protesting the most violently, on charges of using Molotov cocktails and killing one and injuring other police officers.
But police are under fire for the pre-dawn operation, although they were informed that the protestors had inflammable materials.
``Police leaders may be denounced for excessive force, as they mobilized a SWAT team for the operation. But the operation was conducted under official procedures after getting approval from Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief Kim, so it's difficult to bring criminal charges against them,'' the prosecutor said.
rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr
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경찰, 이태원 등 외국인 밀집지역 특별관리
