Arsonist at Hanoi coffee shop: personal life, 2 previous convictions, motive causes outrage

After committing the crime, the suspect was quickly arrested. At the police station, the 51-year-old confessed to setting fire to a coffee shop in Pham Van Dong, Hanoi, killing 11 people.

On the night of December 18, a large fire broke out on Pham Van Dong Street (Co Nhue 2 Ward, Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi). The incident left 11 people dead. By the morning of December 19, information from Dan Tri newspaper said that Hanoi City Police had prosecuted the suspect CVH (51 years old, from Dong Anh District, Hanoi) for murder.

After the fire broke out, authorities were immediately present. The police suspected that the coffee shop was set on fire and urgently searched for and arrested the perpetrator. At around midnight on December 19, suspect CVH was arrested.

At the police station, H confessed that he had come to this bar to drink beer, then had a conflict with the bar staff. Wanting revenge, on the evening of December 18, he bought gasoline and poured it on the first floor of the bar, where there were many motorbikes, then set it on fire. When the fire broke out, this man quickly left.

Speaking to the press, the leader of the Bac Tu Liem District Police (Hanoi) said that the cause of the fire was determined to be someone deliberately setting the fire, stemming from a previous conflict. "The suspect poured a bucket of gasoline on the first floor, causing the fire to flare up. The police are currently working with this person," the leader shared.

At around 11pm the same day, Call Center 141 of the Hanoi City Police Command Information Center received a report of the fire. The functional forces of the districts and local people quickly organized fire fighting, rescue and relief. By 11:40pm, the fire was under control. 7 people were taken out (of which 5 were in stable health, 2 were taken to the emergency room), 11 people died. According to the authorities, subject H had 2 previous convictions for robbery and theft.

To assist in the investigation of the crime scene, the authorities have set up a canvas barrier to isolate the scene. A large number of people have gathered at the scene of the fire. Outside the coffee shop, many motorbikes have been burned to the frame and deformed in front of the house. Due to the impact of the fire, the adjacent house on the left was also affected. Police, prosecutors and appraisers are performing their duties inside.

According to witnesses, at the time of the fire, the fire was so strong that the victims' escape route was blocked. Ms. H. (living next to the coffee shop where the fire broke out) recounted that at around 11 p.m. on December 18, when she and her young child were in the house preparing to go to bed, they heard many explosions right next to their house. A moment later, Ms. H. heard many people shouting that there was a fire. She ran out to Pham Van Dong street and saw that the fire in the karaoke bar had flared up, spreading out the door and burning many cars parked in front of the door. The fire raged on all floors and then spread to the house next door.

Mr. Tuan (a resident who lives 2 houses away) said that this is a music cafe, and at the time of the fire, there were many people inside. When the fire first broke out, a person went to the 3rd floor and then jumped down to the house next door to escape.

Another resident said that a few seconds before the fire, some people saw a man approach the parking area in front of the shop and then pour gasoline on it and set it on fire. The fire broke out very quickly and fiercely.

On December 19, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai and leaders of departments, agencies and Bac Tu Liem district visited and encouraged the victims of the fire at the coffee shop on Pham Van Dong street who are being treated at E Hospital. Currently, E Hospital is receiving and treating 4 patients, including 2 patients with lung injuries but not too serious, currently being treated at the Department of Internal Medicine Intensive Care and Anti-Poison. The remaining 2 patients only have minor injuries and can be discharged soon.

According to lawyer Nguyen Hai Lang, Director of Hong Hanh Van Canh Law Firm, this is an extremely serious criminal case, the perpetrator committed a very cruel act. Therefore, it is very necessary for the investigation agency to urgently clarify the cause, clearly identify the perpetrator's behavior for handling to ensure security, order, social safety and have a high deterrent effect. Lawyer Lang said that the subject Cao Van Hung will be prosecuted for the crime of Murder. For the crime of Murder, according to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 123 of the Penal Code, the penalty is imprisonment from 12 to 20 years, life imprisonment or death penalty.

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