Arson

Australia woman charged after setting fire in quarantine hotel

It is alleged she lit a fire under a bed in the room she had been sharing with two children on Sunday morning.

More than 160 people were evacuated as fire took hold in the 11-storey Pacific Hotel. No-one was injured.

It came as Australia confirmed two cases of the new coronavirus variant which is prompting new restrictions.

Omicron was first reported by South Africa, and has been classified as "of concern" by the World Health Organization (WHO) with early evidence suggesting a higher re-infection risk.

Two arrested in Solomons over torching of govt buildings

The two men were arrested on Friday after the buildings in Tigoa were burned down last month.

The men have been flown to Honiara as the investigation continues.

In a statement police said the arson may have been linked to the election of the provincial premier in July.

     

Village torched in Solomons arson attack

The police said more than 30 people were involved in looting and torching the houses at Taravo Village on Sunday in the Titige area west of the capital, Honiara.

The perpatrators are believed to have been retaliating after one of their own people was attacked and wounded the day before.

Armed with knives and stones, they attacked in the early hours of Sunday morning cutting down trees and crops, killing animals, looting and setting fires.

Taravo's 50 residents escaped into the bush to seek shelter.

The Latest: Shooter had been arrested on arson charge

Police officials said at a news conference Friday that 59-year-old John Russel Houser's arrests date 10 to 15 years ago or more. Those include charges of arson and selling alcohol to a minor. 

He had been married once in the past but was not currently married.

In Alabama, records show Houser had four speeding tickets and one no-seatbelt ticket between 1981 and 2003.