Retiree entertainment center arson kills 2 in E China

A fire victim receives medical attention before rushing to hospital after an arson targeting an entertainment center for retirees in Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, on Friday night, July 27, 2013. [Photo/Sina Weibo]

WENZHOU - Two senior citizens have died and 12 others have been injured in an arson targeting an entertainment center for retirees in East China's Zhejiang province on Friday night, local police said on Saturday.

A 55-year-old suspect, surnamed Lin, is thought to have ignited a gasoline bottle and thrown it into the facility in Lucheng district in Wenzhou city at around 8:41 pm. Dozens of senior citizens were in the center at the time, resting or playing chess and card games.

A 91-year-old woman died immediately. Thirteen people were injured, including the suspect, who had been in the center shortly before the alleged attack. They were rushed to a local hospital for treatment.

Another senior citizen in his 70s died in hospital on Saturday despite doctors' efforts. Many of the injured are in critical conditions.

The suspect has been held by police. Lin had an argument with other senior citizens over the use of an air conditioning system in the center before the fire was started, said police after an initial investigation.

It follows a very similar incident on Friday, when an arson in a nursing home in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province left 11 people dead. The suspect, who died in the blaze, believed one resident of the home stole 200 yuan ($32.4) from him and became agitated.