Chen Shuizong

Case identification

Chen Shuizong (simplified Chinese: 陈水总; traditional Chinese: 陳水總; pinyin: Chén Shuǐzǒng) was identified as the suspect in the Xiamen bus fire.

Timeline

• 7 June 2013 — A mass murder-suicide attack occurred on a bus in Xiamen, Fujian province, China; a Xiamen BRT bus caught fire and exploded on an elevated lane near the Jinshan stop, killing 47 people and injuring 34.
• 6:22 p.m. CST (7 June 2013) — A Xiamen BRT bus (license plate 闽D-Y736) carrying 90 passengers caught fire on an elevated roadway between the Caitang (Chinese: 蔡塘; pinyin: Càitáng) and Jinshan (Chinese: 金山; pinyin: Jīnshān) bus stops.
• 6:50 p.m. CST (7 June 2013) — The fire was extinguished, about twenty minutes after it caught fire.
• 10:50 UTC (7 June 2013) — The fire was extinguished.
• 8 June 2013 — Police identified the suspect as Chen Shuizong.

The offence

On 7 June 2013, a bus operating for the Xiamen BRT caught fire and exploded on an elevated lane near the Jinshan stop. The attack killed 47 people and injured 34.

The fire broke out in the rear end of the bus. Once it spread to the fuel tank, the bus exploded. The bus used diesel, but investigators found traces of gasoline in the fire. The oil tank and tires were intact in the wreckage, which led investigators to believe the fire may have been deliberately lit.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the traffic police indicated that, at around 6:22 p.m. CST, a Xiamen BRT bus, license plate 闽D-Y736, carrying 90 passengers, caught fire on an elevated roadway between the Caitang (Chinese: 蔡塘; pinyin: Càitáng) and Jinshan (Chinese: 金山; pinyin: Jīnshān) bus stops. The fire was extinguished at around 6:50 pm CST (10:50 UTC).

Suspected motive and method were tied to a suicide note found in Chen’s home. Family members said Chen was unhappy with his life and had decided to light the fire to vent his anger.

Investigation

Fire CST, a Xiamen BRT bus (license plate 闽D-Y736) caught fire on an elevated roadway between the Caitang and Jinshan bus stops. The fire broke out in the rear end of the bus and spread to the fuel tank, after which the bus exploded. The fire was extinguished at around 6:50 pm CST (10:50 UTC), twenty minutes after the bus caught fire during the evening rush hour. After the fire, the entire BRT system was temporarily shut down and reopened the following day.

Despite the bus running on diesel, investigators found traces of gasoline in the fire. This, and the fact that the oil tank and tires were intact in the wreckage, led investigators to believe the fire may have been deliberately lit.

The Ministry of Public Security stated that the fire was being treated as a “serious criminal case”.

Evidence and accelerant An investigation launched by experts of the Ministry of Public Security and the provincial Public Security Department found that Chen Shuizong carried petrol onto the BRT bus. Wreckage of a hand trolley and woven bag were found at the scene, and petrol was confirmed as an accelerant.

An investigation showed Chen bought the petrol from a store in Xiamen on June 5 and left his home with a hand trolley carrying a woven bag at around 4 p.m. on June 7. He then boarded the bus.

Several survivors said Chen started the fire when the bus was traveling from Jinshan station and Caitang station.

Two letters for Chen’s wife and daughter found by Xiamen police in his house were written by him.

According to DNA tests, Chen died in the blaze.

Official statement Huang Wenhui, spokesman of Xiamen government, said: “The bus uses diesel, but the cause we found is gasoline, so it is unlikely to be an accident.”

Arrest / suspect identification

On 8 June 2013, police identified the suspect as Chen Shuizong, a local resident born on March 1, 1954.

Police said Chen died at the scene. Local authorities identified Chen Shuizong as a suspect responsible for the fire and said he left a suicide note in his home.

Chen Shuizong’s will was found at his home.

Evidence items reported

A hand trolley and woven bag were found at the scene. Petrol was confirmed as an accelerant. Two letters for Chen’s wife and daughter were found by Xiamen police in Chen’s house and were written by him. DNA tests were used to determine Chen died in the blaze.

Victims and impact

The bus fire killed 47 people and injured 34 others. As of Saturday, 15 injured people were seriously injured. The injured people were being treated at 2 local hospitals. 16 were in a critical condition, and many had been operated on or were in intensive care.

Jiang Jie, head of First Hospital of Xiamen University, said: “In general, our patients are now in a stable condition. We will treat them with proper plans and great care based on their individual situation.”

Aftermath

The elevated road was sealed since the fire started. Local residents were not allowed to use the service until Saturday morning. Bus services resumed at 7 o’clock Saturday morning, about 12 hours after the fire. The tragedy did not stop people from using the service to get in and out of Xiamen Island, though it would take time to finish the investigation.

Suspect background and asserted personal disputes

Suicide note Family members indicated that Chen was unhappy with his life and had decided to light the fire to vent his anger.

Family members also said Chen was angry with police officials who refused to correct an error in his identity documents and denied social security benefits.

Social media / petitions A Tencent Weibo post under Chen’s name complained that he could not receive social security insurance because police made an error when recording his age and then did not treat his problem seriously. Chen wrote: “I have been to the police station 56 times but they still haven't solved my problem,”. Chen Shilong, Chen Shuizong’s brother, told the Guangzhou-based Nanfang Daily that Chen had attempted petitions in the past and added that Chen had a bad temper and was often involved in disputes with his neighbors.

Police statements on cause Police confirmed after investigations that Chen Shuizong, a 59-year-old local man, lit the bus on fire. Police said Chen committed the crime due to a negative attitude and dissatisfaction with his personal life.

Claims about a video on social media Several screenshots of a video circulating on Weibo showed a man who was said to be Chen dragging a plastic bag and walking on the street, but the video could not be verified as of press time.

Other details

The licence plate was 闽D-Y736. The bus was traveling from Jinshan station and Caitang station when survivors said the fire was started. The bus service was temporarily shut down following the fire and reopened the following day. Pictures taken by witnesses were posted online showing heavy smokes and survivors with burns on their arms and legs.