Police in Lhasa say all the main suspects in the four major arson¹ cases during the Lhasa riots have been arrested. Together, the four cases were responsible for 12 civilian² deaths.

One suspect confessed to his role in setting ablaze³ the motorcycle garage in Dagze county, before throwing two petroleum⁴ gas cylinders⁵ into the garage. The fire claimed five lives. Another suspect admitted to setting fire to a trousers store, in addition to looting two other stores. A sales assistant in the trousers store was burned to death.

Meanwhile, three others in police custody⁶ are suspected of setting fire to a clothing store, which claimed the lives of five girls in their twenties. Police also arrested those suspected of starting the fire that consumed another clothing store and killed a girl.