Identity of east China bus arsonist still unclear

Police cordon off the site where a bus was in flames in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, July 5, 2014. Thirty-two injured people were sent to hospitals after a bus caught fire on Saturday afternoon in downtown Hangzhou. (Xinhua/Han Chuanhao)

The identity of a man suspected by police of setting a bus fire on Saturday in east China's Hangzhou city is still unclear.

On Monday, police posted a photo of the man online and offered rewards for tips on his identity.

Police recovered the video captured by a camera on the bus showing a man near the vehicle's back door pouring liquid from his backpack at 5:03 p.m. Saturday and using a lighter to set the fire. Flames quickly spread through the bus.

Police also ascertained from the footage that the stocky man, aged about 30 and wearing shorts and slippers, got on the bus at the terminal station of Lingyin Temple at 4:09pm.

Lingyin Temple is a famous tourist attraction in the scenic city, known for its picturesque West Lake. Investigators said many of the passengers aboard the bus were tourists outside Hangzhou. There are three minors among the injured.

The suspected arsonist and 28 others are being treated in hospitals.

Hospital sources said the arson suspect is among 15 severely injured people from the fire. They are still under intensive medical care.

Police have found that the fire was ignited by banana oil, a lacquer thinner, which the suspect carried onto the bus in a 10-liter plastic container in his backpack.