A suspected arsonist in connection with a store fire in east China's Zhejiang Province that killed 17 people has been arrested.

Liu Weixiong, 30, a native of Hunan Province, was arrested early Wednesday morning in his rented house in Huangyan District, Taizhou City of Zhejiang Province, according to the Taizhou Public Security Bureau.

Liu admitted that he set fire to a two-storey shop on Luting Road, Huangyan District on Feb. 4, which left 17 dead and six others injured, police said. The second floor was used as the living quarters for migrant workers.

But it is still unclear why Liu started the fire.

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2007)