CHINA> Regional
CCTV official detained over massive fire
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-12 12:45

BEIJING -- Beijing police have detained an official of China Central Television over Monday night's massive fire that caused one death and seven injuries in its new headquarters complex, the municipal public security bureau confirmed Thursday.

Related readings:
 CCTV site manager questioned about fire
 CCTV staff blamed for fire tragedy
 Fireworks caused CCTV hotel fire
 Beijing's new CCTV tower on fire

Xu Wei, 50, is among 12 people detained under suspicion of having caused the fire with banned fireworks, a spokesman with the bureau said.

Under detention are three other CCTV employees and eight people CCTV hired to set off fireworks, he said.

The spokesman said the bureau is investigating the case, and gave no details.

Xu is in charge of civil construction of CCTV's new site in eastern Beijing's central business district. He is native of Beijing and began working at CCTV in 1983.