An ambulance takes victims’ bodies from the crime scene. — VNA/VNS Photo Thành Chung

HCM CITY — A man has admitted to starting a fire outside house in HCM City’s District 9 that led to deaths of five members of the same family.

Nguyễn Hữu Phước, 39, told police although he started the blaze, he had no intention of killing them, and only did it to scare his neighbours.

According to Phước’s initial testimony, he was in dispute with his neighbours because they lived at the back of an alley and had to go across his house to gain access to their home.

Phước got angry and wanted her family to move out. He had asked to buy the house many times his neighbour refused to sell.

Early on Tuesday, Phước threw rags soaked with gasoline at four motorbikes placed in front of the house, triggering the blaze on Đỗ Xuân Hợp Street.

After committing the crime, Phước came back home and acted like nothing happened but he was caught on security camera footage starting the fire.

He is currently in police custody while investigations continue. — VNS