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Man sets fire at government complex in SKorea

October 14, 2012 | Modified: October 14, 2012 at 5:15 am
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Police in South Korea say a 61-year-old man set a fire at Seoul's main government complex before killing himself.

Seoul police cited witnesses as saying the man used a lighter and papers to start the fire at an Education Ministry office on the complex's 18th floor Sunday and then jumped to his death.

The blaze was quickly put out, and it caused only minor damage. Police say the motive for the arson wasn't immediately known.

In 2008, a 69-year-old man set a fire that destroyed a 14th-century gate in Seoul in a fit of anger over a land dispute unrelated to the landmark.

Sunday's fire occurred at one of the two main government complex buildings, which houses the Unification Ministry, the Public Administration and Security Ministry and other offices.