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New Zealand police charge man with arson in hostel fire that killed at least 6
New Zealand police said Thursday they had arrested a man and charged him with two counts of arson in connection with the fire at a Wellington hostel that killed at least six people.
Fire and police investigators form a guard of honour as the first body is removed from the the Loafers Hostel by a hearse in Wellington, New Zealand, Thursday, May 18, 2023, following a fire that left several people dead in the early hours of Tuesday May 16. New Zealand police started removing bodies from the Wellington hostel where multiple people were killed in Tuesday's fire. (George Heard/New Zealand Herald via AP)
''WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand police said Thursday they had arrested a man and charged him with two counts of arson in connection with the fire at a Wellington hostel that killed at least six people.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and they could file more serious charges in relation to the deaths at the scene. Earlier, police said they had launched a homicide investigation.
Police Inspector Dion Bennett said Thursday they are confident they're not seeking anybody else in connection with the fire.
The suspect, who was not immediately named by police, is scheduled to make his first appearance Friday at the Wellington District Court.
Earlier, police removed the first two bodies from the Loafers Lodge hostel and said they planned to remove the next two on Friday. Bennett said it's possible they could find more victims as officers continue their scene examination.''
