Qld: Man arrested after hostel fire to appear in court

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2000
Qld: Man arrested after hostel fire to appear in court

BRISBANE, Aug 14 AAP - A man captured by police following the Childers backpacker fire
will appear in a Queensland court on Friday, police said today.

Robert Paul Long, 37, was arrested by police investigating the June 23 hostel fire
which killed 15 people - mostly overseas backpackers.

Long, detained five days after the blaze, was shot in the arm after allegedly stabbing
a Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) member in the face when he was tracked down in
bushland.

Long underwent surgery after the incident and was later charged with attempted murder
of the police officer.

He was flown to Brisbane where he has been kept in custody pending Friday's court appearance
at Bundaberg Magistrates Court.

Long was not charged over the fire in the Palace Backpackers Hostel.

Queensland police spokesman Brian Swift today refused to comment on whether Long would
face further charges.

AAP dn/sc/was

KEYWORD: HOSTEL LONG

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