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Subway disaster was 'suicide attempt'
DAEGU, South Korea -- The man accused of lighting the fire that triggered the South Korean subway disaster has reportedly told police the attack was an attempt to commit suicide. The suspect, Kim Dae-han, 56, who has a history of mental illness, said "he decided to die with others in a crowded place, rather than die by himself," according to Police Lieutenant Cho Doo-won. The disclosure came as South Koreans tried to come to grips with the full extent of the carnage from Tuesday's subway inferno in Daegu. At least 120 people were killed and another 134 injured. (Grim search) The death toll could climb higher, with estimates that between 165 and 300 people are still missing. The city public affairs officer who reported 300 missing people said the number was likely to be inflated by multiple reports. Witnesses say the arson suspect started the blaze by igniting a container of flammable liquid. The suspect, a Daegu resident and former taxi driver kept flicking a cigarette lighter over the container, the Korea Herald reported on Wednesday. Passengers tried to stop him and a scuffle ensued at which time the container exploded. Fierce flames, choking smoke and toxic fumes ensured the death toll was high. Kim had reportedly been treated for depression and had grown increasingly bitter over his treatment for a stroke suffered in 2001. Mental and physical illnesses have dogged Kim since the stroke, local reports said. He has been unemployed ever since and is registered as disabled. He was arrested on Tuesday two hours after receiving emergency treatment for minor burns and was taken into police custody. He is under close guard for fear he may attempt suicide.
Kim's relatives told the Korean Times he had suffered from a mild case of mental illness since the stroke and was disgruntled with his treatment. Kim claimed his condition hadn't improved because of poor treatment and a bad attitude from his doctors. The report said that Kim's resentment over his injuries contributed to soured relations with his family. Kim often spoke of torching the hospital buildings where he was treated, relatives were quoted as saying. His son told the Korea Herald his father regularly said he wanted to die and had asked doctors or policemen to kill him. After becoming mentally ill since the stroke, Kim threatened to kill the doctor who failed to cure his paralysis, his son said in the report. Kim also said his father lacked the ability to make sound judgments. Investigations are continuing. Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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