At least 17 killed, dozens injured in bus fire in northern China (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

At least 17 people have been killed and dozens injured in an apparent arson attack on a bus in northern China, authorities said. Police have arrested a man suspected of starting the blaze.

The incident took place in the city of Yinchuan, Ningxia region, northern China at about 7am, the regional government's news office said, as cited by AP. Social media users have been posting photos of the bus, which was completely engulfed in flames.

The firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control in five minutes, a spokesperson for the Ningxia government said, adding that of the 32 injured at least eight are in critical condition.

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According to a preliminary investigation, the incident was an arson attack. Later, Chinese police "seized" a man suspected of the assault, the Chinese People's Daily said, as cited by Reuters.

AP and CCTV also reported that police were hunting a 33-year-old suspect identified as Ma Yongping. It is not yet clear if he was the man police arrested.

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China has suffered several bus fire incidents in the past. In 2013, a huge blaze killed 47 people in a bus in the southeastern city of Xiamen. Police later concluded it was a suicide attack. In 2014, a fire in a bus in the city of Hangzhou injured at least 33 people.