Dubai: An argument that led to arson is now being pursued by Dubai authorities investigating the fire that torched nearly a dozen cars on Saturday at a parking lot outside the Dubai Outlet Mall.
Police arrested the Asian man suspected of setting the vehicles on fire.
Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commander-In-Chief of Dubai Police, praised the team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after they arrested the suspect before the man fled the country.
“Dubai Police will always stand against anyone who wants to disturb the safety and order in the emirate,” Major General Al Merri said.
Lt Colonel Adel Al Joker, Director of CID at Dubai Police, said that a bus driver who takes employees to and from the mall had an argument with another driver and set ablaze the victim’s vehicle and escaped.
“Eleven vehicles went up in flames after a fire erupted at a parking lot at 4pm on Saturday," Lt Col Al Joker said.
A team of officers reviewed all the evidence in the criminal analysis center in Dubai police and identified the suspect and his location.
"The fire started in a bus and our investigations confirmed that there was a criminal intent behind the fire as the bus was parked in a safe place and no flammable materials were around it,” Al Joker added.
“We raided his (suspect's) place and arrested him in a record time as he was trying to leave the country. Signs of burns were found in his body as he burned himself accidently while setting the blaze.”
The suspect confessed that he works as a driver for a staff bus at the mall and that he had a heated argument with another Asian driver and burned his vehicle in revenge.
Major-General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant to the Dubai Police Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, praised the quick respond of officers and patrols from Bur Dubai police station which led the suspect's arrest.
The suspect was then referred to public prosecution to complete the investigations, said Al Mansouri.
Fire guts 11 cars outside Dubai Outlet Mall https://t.co/9XtQPk3lCV pic.twitter.com/2fNPPxB4pt
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) May 12, 2018
