Chinese man arrested for spreading rumours of firefighter fatalities in Jiangsu chemical factory blast blaze
- Authorities dismiss ‘hateful’ internet post
- Fire chiefs say none of their crews died fighting Thursday’s blast
A man from northern China has been arrested for spreading rumours that 18 firefighters were killed by toxic fumes while responding to Thursday’s pesticide factory explosion in Yancheng, Jiangsu province.
Investigators alleged that the suspect, a 21-year-old surnamed Shi from Shanxi province, “had fabricated and spread false rumours online, causing confusion and disturbing public order”, Yancheng city police said on Sunday.
On Friday, the man used Chinese internet company Baidu’s Tieba internet forum to claim that 18 of the city’s firefighters died from inhaling toxic fumes at the plant, police said.
Provincial fire chiefs said no crew members were killed or injured while responding to the explosion.
According to city authorities, at least 78 people were killed and more than 600 injured by the blast at Jiangsu Tianjiayi Chemical factory, making it one of the deadliest industrial accidents in recent years.
Tests carried out on Friday showed the amount of toxic nitrogen oxide in the air was almost twice the national safety level for industrial areas.
