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Arrests follow China tower fire | Arrests follow China tower fire |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Twelve people have been detained in connection with a fire that partly destroyed the unfinished headquarters of China's state broadcaster. | |
One of those being held is an official from China Central Television (CCTV), Xinhua state news agency confirmed. | |
CCTV has apologised for setting off powerful illegal firecrackers that are blamed for sparking the Beijing blaze. | |
A firefighter died after inhaling toxic fumes and several people were injured in the fire late on Monday. | |
The tragedy has angered some Chinese, for appearing to show how high-profile groups can bypass normal rules. | |
Officials from CCTV were using the new building - that housed the near-completed Mandarin Oriental hotel and a culture centre - as the backdrop for an illegal pyrotechnics display. | |
Party that went horribly wrong One or more fireworks hit the tower, which was still under construction so the sprinkler system was not switched on. The 33-storey block may now have to be scrapped. | |
Among those detained over the incident was Xu Wei, 50, who was in charge of construction at CCTV's new site. | |
The 12 are being held "on suspicion of creating a disturbance with dangerous materials", an official statement said. | The 12 are being held "on suspicion of creating a disturbance with dangerous materials", an official statement said. |
Citing police, Xinhua news agency reported separately that three other CCTV employees and eight people the station hired to set off the fireworks were also under detention. | Citing police, Xinhua news agency reported separately that three other CCTV employees and eight people the station hired to set off the fireworks were also under detention. |
Authorities said previously the blaze was caused by fireworks that CCTV had illegally set off that were far more powerful than the public was allowed to buy. | |
It also ignored police orders against setting off the fireworks as part of Chinese lunar new year celebrations. | |