Investigators probe incitement to suicide in self-immolation attempt at United Russia public center in Novosibirsk (Part 2)

NOVOSIBIRSK. July 18 (Interfax) - Five people sustained injuries when a woman set herself on fire at a public reception center of the United Russia party in Novosibirsk, and investigators have opened a criminal case on incitement to suicide charges, said Marina Kinzhalova, a senior aide to the chief of the Investigative Committee department for the Novosibirsk region.

"A criminal case has been opened on incitement to suicide charges under Russian Criminal Code Article 110," Kinzhalova told Interfax on Wednesday.

Investigators have found out that a 50-year-old woman committed a self-immolation attempt at the United Russia public reception center in Novosibirsk on Wednesday. The woman earlier addressed the party's public reception center for legal advice in defending her interests as an apartment buyer in courts.

As the woman lost all legal disputes and was unhappy about the legal services she was provided with at the public reception center, she poured gasoline over her body and set it on fire at the center, Kinzhalova said.

The woman suffered burns of 80% of her body, she said.

In addition to the woman herself and a public reception center employee, who suffered serious injuries and whose hospitalization was reported earlier, three more reception center workers have been taken to the hospital, she said.

It was reported earlier that, after the woman set herself on fire at the United Russia public reception center on the second floor of a four-story business center in downtown Novosibirsk on Wednesday morning, the fire spread over an area of some 70 square meters. Eighty-seven people were evacuated from the building, and 52 firefighters and 15 pieces of equipment were involved in fighting the fire.

The fire was fully extinguished about two hours later.

va

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