(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-10-03 20:27

CHONGQING -- A bus fire that killed 27 people in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Tuesday had been an arson attack, local police said on Wednesday.

Xiao Yonghua, a former employee of the company that operates the ill-fated Yutong bus, hid gasoline in his baggage before he got on the bus that left Wansheng district for downtown Chongqing at around 5:00 pm on Tuesday, said Wang Yunsheng, deputy head of the municipal public security bureau.

In less than 20 minutes, the bus carrying 38 people caught fire. The driver pulled over, and the panic-stricken passengers tried to flee. But the flames started in the front of the bus and blocked the exit.

Twenty-seven were killed in the accident, including 17 men and 10 women, and the remaining 11 people were injured.

One passenger, Zhang Dazhong, said he had to jump out of the window to survive but was injured on the head.

Xiao, 50, was sitting with his wife, 38-year-old Zhang Xiaoya, in the first row on the left side of the bus, right behind the driver, said Wang.

Both died in the fire.

Lab work has confirmed the presence of gasoline traces on their seats.

Until September 20, Xiao was deputy manager of the Wansheng branch of the Guanzhong Public Transport Company that owned the bus.

He was suspended from his post because of family disputes, and was unhappy with the punishment, the company said.

The Ministry of Public Security sent experts to join the investigation in Chongqing.

Hospital sources said the 11 injured are out of danger.

By 5:00 pm Wednesday, 26 of the dead have been identified by their families.