AN intoxicated 38-year-old man allegedly filmed himself attempting to burn down a hotel in Manama yesterday.
Police found the incriminating video on his phone and he later outlined his antics to investigating officers who arrested him within an hour of the incident.
In the early hours of Friday, 10 fire engines rushed to the Gulf Pearl Hotel, in the heart of Manama, and firemen extinguished burning furniture and smouldering areas of carpet.
All 140 hotel guests staying in the building were evacuated by the Civil Defence, according to an Interior Ministry statement.
The GDN visited the location of the fire yesterday morning, where clean-up operations were well underway. A hotel executive, who asked not to be named, told of his shock over the incident involving a Bahraini diner who was originally in the hotel’s restaurant and moved to a foyer on the third floor, the scene of the 2am drama.
He allegedly set fire to a two-seater sofa. “The fire spread to the carpet area but was quickly put out by automatic sprinklers and our fire-resistant doors stopped it from spreading further,” the management representative added. “When he was arrested police found a video on his phone. He had filmed himself gleefully setting fire to the place.”
The hotel official said that the damage was limited to the piece of furniture and some of the carpeting and fire doors, which were being replaced during the GDN’s visit.
“The authorities also asked us to replace the affected ceiling panels on the third floor, and we are repainting the interior walls too.
“Other damage included soot and smoke on the walls and ceiling, although it did not reach other levels of the building. Fortunately the blaze did not even enter the neighbouring room closest to where the fire started.”
The Interior Ministry statement said that five hotel guests were taken to hospital and five others needed treatment for smoke inhalation.
The hotel spokesperson said that the guests all appeared to be healthy and safe after being seen by healthcare professionals and any hospital visits were for precautionary reasons.
“We transferred the evacuated guests to a next-door hotel and are paying for their stay. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt and our hotel is already getting back on its feet.
“This morning, the Civil Defence gave us permission to turn the electricity and air-conditioning back on.
“We are just waiting for permission from the tourism authorities to reopen the hotel for business.”
Legal procedures have been instigated. The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the accused man was ‘under the influence’ and will be facing a charge of arson. The case will be referred to the Public Prosecution.
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