ID :
41794
Wed, 01/21/2009 - 03:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/41794
The shortlink copeid
(3rd LD) Six dead, over 20 injured after police clash at construction site
(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead with latest death toll, details, reactions; RESTRUCTURES throughout)
SEOUL, Jan. 20 (Yonhap) -- Six people were found dead Tuesday and some 20 were
injured after a building in central Seoul was engulfed in flames during a police
raid on occupants protesting redevelopment of the area, fire officials said.
The incident occurred just two days after President Lee Myung-bak appointed Kim
Seok-ki, the current Seoul police chief, to head the National Police Agency and
is expected to provide ammunition for the opposition party at his confirmation
hearing.
Kim was accused of using excessive force last summer in dealing with street
demonstrators opposed to the reopening of South Korea's market to U.S. beef.
Fire authorities said they discovered six people dead inside a four-story
building in Yongsan Ward, central Seoul, after some 40 people protesting a
redevelopment scheme in the area clashed with police attempting to forcefully
disband the sit-in.
The police said the bodies haven't been fully identified yet but they suspect one
could be that of a police officer. Some 20 protesters and police were injured,
officials said.
The protesters, mostly small business owners, occupied the building early Monday
morning, demanding higher compensation for business closures caused by a major
urban redevelopment project planned for the area.
Eyewitnesses said they saw the entire rooftop catch fire soon after police
reached the protesters using a crane. Investigators claim the blaze was caused by
the protesters, who threw paint thinner and makeshift explosives at police
commandos who raided the building around 6:40 a.m.
"We will conduct a thorough investigation together with prosecutors to find out
exactly how the incident occurred," said Baek Dong-san, head of Yongsan Police.
President Lee, who was briefed on the incident during a Cabinet meeting, ordered
officials to conduct a "thorough investigation," according to a presidential aide
that was present at the meeting. He would not comment on how the incident might
affect the appointment of the new police chief.
In a press conference, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said that "a great tragedy
has occurred while trying to disband an illegal occupation" and expressed his
condolences to the families of the victims.
Park Hee-tae, head of the ruling Grand National Party, called the incident
"distressing" and promised that the party would "use all its strength" in dealing
with the situation.
The opposition Democratic Party (DP), however, blasted Kim and demanded the
president immediately fire him and the minister of administration and safety, who
oversees the nation's police operations.
"(Kim's) first performance after being appointed as the head of police was the
bloody crackdown on ordinary citizens," DP spokeswoman Kim Yoo-jung said and
demanded punishment of all officials involved.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Jan. 20 (Yonhap) -- Six people were found dead Tuesday and some 20 were
injured after a building in central Seoul was engulfed in flames during a police
raid on occupants protesting redevelopment of the area, fire officials said.
The incident occurred just two days after President Lee Myung-bak appointed Kim
Seok-ki, the current Seoul police chief, to head the National Police Agency and
is expected to provide ammunition for the opposition party at his confirmation
hearing.
Kim was accused of using excessive force last summer in dealing with street
demonstrators opposed to the reopening of South Korea's market to U.S. beef.
Fire authorities said they discovered six people dead inside a four-story
building in Yongsan Ward, central Seoul, after some 40 people protesting a
redevelopment scheme in the area clashed with police attempting to forcefully
disband the sit-in.
The police said the bodies haven't been fully identified yet but they suspect one
could be that of a police officer. Some 20 protesters and police were injured,
officials said.
The protesters, mostly small business owners, occupied the building early Monday
morning, demanding higher compensation for business closures caused by a major
urban redevelopment project planned for the area.
Eyewitnesses said they saw the entire rooftop catch fire soon after police
reached the protesters using a crane. Investigators claim the blaze was caused by
the protesters, who threw paint thinner and makeshift explosives at police
commandos who raided the building around 6:40 a.m.
"We will conduct a thorough investigation together with prosecutors to find out
exactly how the incident occurred," said Baek Dong-san, head of Yongsan Police.
President Lee, who was briefed on the incident during a Cabinet meeting, ordered
officials to conduct a "thorough investigation," according to a presidential aide
that was present at the meeting. He would not comment on how the incident might
affect the appointment of the new police chief.
In a press conference, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said that "a great tragedy
has occurred while trying to disband an illegal occupation" and expressed his
condolences to the families of the victims.
Park Hee-tae, head of the ruling Grand National Party, called the incident
"distressing" and promised that the party would "use all its strength" in dealing
with the situation.
The opposition Democratic Party (DP), however, blasted Kim and demanded the
president immediately fire him and the minister of administration and safety, who
oversees the nation's police operations.
"(Kim's) first performance after being appointed as the head of police was the
bloody crackdown on ordinary citizens," DP spokeswoman Kim Yoo-jung said and
demanded punishment of all officials involved.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
