An arson suspect in a fire that killed a family of eight people in Hsinchu City earlier this week used toilet paper and gasoline to start the fire, police said Friday.

Citing a statement by the shop owner, the Hsinchu police said the blaze at Zheng Yi Tire Repair Shop, which was on the first floor of a two-story building where the family lived, on Dongda Road on Wednesday was intentionally set by the owner’s second son Chen Yen-hsiang (???).

The 31-year-old Chen had gotten into an argument earlier with other family members, left the scene, and then returned that same night to pour gasoline inside the shop, police said.

An argument subsequently ensued between the owner and his son, who then lit a piece of toilet paper and threw it onto the floor, igniting a fire that quickly spread to the second floor, they added.

The shop owner was able to escape, but the blaze left eight people dead, comprising four adults and four children.

They were the shop owner’s 56-year-old wife, his 28-year-old daughter, and the wives of his two sons, one of whom is Chen, police said, adding that three of the children — who were 7, 6, and 3 years old — were Chen’s, while the other one was the 1-year-old child of his older brother.

The flames burned through the ceiling of the tire shop into the family apartment on the second floor of the sheet iron structure, commander of the Hsinchu City Fire Bureau First Corps Chang Chih-chih (???) said on Thursday.

Chen, who was injured in the fire, tried to flee the scene but was arrested and taken to hospital, Chang said that day.

The suspect is currently being hospitalized for burns and smoke inhalation, Hsinchu police explained further on Friday.

Police also cited the shop owner as saying that his second son owed bank loans.

He had been prepared to give his son NT$500,000 (US$16,804) to move out of the house, they said, but Chen instead wanted his father to sell the shop.

According to the owner on Thursday, Chen had a quarrel with his family about money on that day before the fire.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel