A man accused of setting fire to government buildings and killing a policeman has been captured, a police spokesman said on Tuesday.

The suspect, surnamed Zhang, allegedly set fire to a sign in the villagers' committee building of Liuguanying Village, Qian'an City of Hebei Province on Monday morning. It happened after a dispute with traffic police who tried to summon him for breaking a highway toll booth arm while avoiding payment last Thursday, the spokesman of the Qian'an police bureau told Xinhua.

Police said Zhang then drove a vehicle, loaded with petrol and a gas tank, into the first floor of the Malanzhuang Township government building. He lit the vehicle on fire but it was quickly extinguished by firefighters.

Zhang then hijacked another vehicle and tried to get away. He drove straight through a police barricade, injuring one officer and three security guards, who were there to help police. The injured officer died later when all rescue measures failed. Zhang was then captured by authorities.

One of the three security guards was in critical condition on Tuesday.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2008)