A man has been arrested on suspicion of starting a factory fire in Karachi four years ago that killed 255 people.

Abdul Rehman, 46, was found at a hotel in Bangkok's red light district on Friday evening local time.

Thailand's Interpol chief Major General Apichart Suriboonya said: "Thai Interpol tracked this suspect following an arrest warrant sought by the Pakistani authorities.

"He will be repatriated as soon as Pakistan is ready."

Image: Initially the fire was thought to be the result of an accident but now a man has been arrested

The fire was initially thought to have been an accident but earlier this year police said they believed an extortion gang was to blame, naming Rehman as the main suspect.


Police suspect the gang was demanding money from the owners of the Karachi clothing factory.

When the factory's owners refused to pay the demand of seven million baht, the factory was set on fire.

It turned out to be one of Pakistan's worst industrial disasters and was initially thought to have killed 289 people.

An investigation also blamed a lack of fire exits, poor safety training for workers, the way machinery was packed and incompetent government inspectors.