The man who started a fire on a rush hour train that injured 19 passengers in February died in hospital in the early hours of yesterday.
Cheung Kam-fai, 60, passed away at about 5.20am at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin yesterday, according to a government spokesperson. Local media outlets report that he died from organ failure.
The 60-year-old was charged with one count of arson with intent on February 13 after he started a fire on a packed metro train. He never made it to court for his hearing as it had been postponed multiple times due to his injuries.
At around 7pm on Friday, February 10, witnesses heard Cheung shout “burn you to death” before hurling a firebomb onto a Tsuen Wan Line train as it approached Tsim Sha Tsui Station.
Footage and photos of the incident circulated online showed the carriage burning as other passengers beat out of the flames on Cheung’s legs as he lay on the platform.
A total of 19 people who were injured, four of whom were in critical condition.
District Police Commander Kwok Pak-chung said at the time that Cheung had mentioned “personal reasons” for starting the fire, but was otherwise “incoherent”. The 60-year-old is believed to have mental problems.
