VietNamNet Bridge – A man on Tuesday set himself on fire at the gate of the Central Citizen Reception Centre in Hanoi, according to the police.

Hanoi police deputy director Colonel Nguyen Thanh Tung (standing) reports the suicide attempt of a man who set himself on fire in front of the building of the Central Citizen Reception Centre on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Thang

At a press conference held on Tuesday afternoon, Hanoi police deputy director Colonel Nguyen Thanh Tung said that the incident occurred at around 11.25am in Ha Dong District.

The man was Bui Huu Tuan, 58, a resident of Dao Ngan Village in the capital’s suburban Chuong My District. He was also the former chief of the village.

Tuan and another village fellow Luong Cong Tinh arrived at the Central Citizen Reception Centre on Monday morning to lodge an appeal to a verdict of the city People’s Court against Tuan for power abuse. They also requested the suspension of a June 22 decision of the Chuong My District People’s Court on executing the prison sentence for those who were on bail.

After being received by an officer at the centre, the two left but Tuan soon returned with a 500ml plastic bottle filled with petrol. Pouring the petrol all over himself, he set himself on fire in front of the centre’s building.

Security guards and the people nearby rushed to put off the flames and take him to the Le Huu Trac Institute of Burns.

The preliminary assessment showed that Tuan suffered burns over 77 per cent of his body, of which 25 per cent was deeply burnt.

Hanoi police are investigating the case. 

Source: VNS