A 59-year-old man is now in custody, accused of deliberately setting six separate fires within just four days in the Sindos area of Thessaloniki, driving his car from one location to the next to carry out the attacks.
The charges he faces
The 59-year-old was arrested under the flagrante delicto procedure by the Thessaloniki Arson Crime Investigation Unit and now faces charges of deliberate and continuous arson.
His arrest came following an investigation into a series of fires that had begun raising serious concern among authorities, as the blazes were breaking out in rapid succession across the wider Sindos area, in the Municipality of Delta.
Six fires at different locations
According to findings from the Fire Service investigation, the 59-year-old is alleged to have driven his vehicle around the area, setting fire to dry grass, reed beds, and agricultural land.
The first incident attributed to him occurred on Saturday, August 8, when a fire broke out and destroyed approximately 20 acres of agricultural land.
One day later, on Sunday, August 9, another fire erupted in the same general area, this time burning approximately 15 acres.
The spree, according to investigators, reached its peak on Tuesday, August 11. The suspect is alleged to have returned to the Sindos area and started four more separate fires in a single day.
In total, authorities attribute six arson incidents to the man, with investigators gathering the evidence that ultimately led to his identification and arrest.
The 59-year-old to appear before prosecutor
The Arson Crime Investigation Directorate and the relevant investigation unit responded swiftly, as the consecutive fires in the same area had already drawn the close attention of investigators.
Following his arrest, a criminal case file was compiled against him for deliberate and continuous arson, and the 59-year-old is being brought before the competent prosecutor.
