Man Attacks Hong Kong MTR with Firebomb

A fire broke out on Hong Kong's metro system last night, causing rush hour chaos among commuters.

The incident happened at Tsim Sha Tsui station on the Tseun Wan line, one of the busiest platforms on Hong Kong's MTR system. So far eighteen injuries have been reported.

https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?vid=e03732ydrez&width=500&height=375&auto=0

The South China Morning Post, citing a police source, reports that the incident happened after a man tried to throw a Molotov cocktail onto a train: "A man tried to hurl a lit Molotov cocktail (petrol bomb) on board a packed train when it was about to reach [Tsim Sha Tsui] platform and he caught fire.”

A 60-year-old man named Cheung Kam-Fai has been arrested in connection with the fire. Cheung allegedly declared he world "burn passengers to death," before lighting a bottle and hurling it onto the train. Hong Kong authorities say he started the fire for personal reasons and dismissed allegations that it was a terrorist attack, though they haven't ruled out any motives. Cheung is currently being treated for critical injuries.

Images and video circulating online showed what is believed to be the suspect lying on the floor of the platform while seriously burned. (Warning: graphic image below):

The eighteen victims were treated at nearby hospitals. The SCMP reports that one man and one woman are currently in critical condition. Meanwhile, five people were in serious condition and ten were stable. One victim has already been discharged.

Emergency services are said to have responded at 7.14pm. The MTR Corporation advised passengers to avoid the station and noted that the system is experiencing heavy delays. Parts of the station have also been closed off.

Hong Kong authorities are currently investigating the incident.

For the latest updates on this story, click "Read more" below.

[Images via Facebook, HKFP, Twitter, Apple Daily, Weibo]