Two young men accused of deliberate arson in the major fire that broke out last Tuesday night in the Sychaina area of Patras are in police custody since yesterday evening. The blaze reached massive proportions due to strong winds, essentially entering the urban fabric and causing damage to homes, businesses, and two monasteries. Meanwhile, another person was brought in for questioning early this morning as a suspect from the Aroi area, while a 25-year-old arrested yesterday on arson charges in the nursing home area will be brought before the prosecutor.
The fire started after dark when aerial firefighting units weren’t flying
According to police reports, the two suspects arrested for the Sychaina fire are a 27-year-old and a 19-year-old, who were identified through video footage and witness testimonies. The 19-year-old has already confessed. Specifically, according to police, the 19-year-old admitted he started the fire and even led officers to the point where the blaze began, which matches the ignition point provided by the Fire Service’s Arson Crime Unit in Voudeni, near Sychaina. It’s worth noting that the fire started after darkness had fallen when aerial units weren’t operating, while another fire was already in progress in neighboring Platani.
The investigation began with a video that the Fire Service had available and provided to police for investigation to identify two vehicles visible in the footage. Specifically, according to police sources, the video showed a motorcycle and a car moving near the fire’s starting point. Officers from the Police Crime Investigation Unit conducted a search at the incident location looking for additional video evidence and witness testimonies. There they found a witness who handed them an empty bottle that smelled of gasoline, telling them she found it at the scene. She also identified the motorcycle, which was corroborated through cross-referencing with other video footage officers secured from the area. This evidence led them to the two suspects and resulted in their arrests.
The 27-year-old claims memory gaps due to tsipouro drinking
The 27-year-old denies all charges and claims memory gaps, saying he had been drinking tsipouro. However, a case file has been compiled against them and they will face summary trial, as the arrest was made within the time limits for such proceedings. Neither suspect has previously troubled authorities for any criminal offense.
The 25-year-old also arrested yesterday in the nursing home area will be brought before the Patras prosecutor charged with arson, while he stubbornly denies every charge. It should be recalled that the 25-year-old was arrested by special police unit officers who, according to their testimony, saw him crouching at a spot with dry grass in the nursing home area, from where a fire started shortly afterward. The man brought in for questioning early morning in Aroi was spotted by police as a suspect, and during a body search, five lighters were found in his possession.
He claims he has no connection to any arsons, and police will coordinate with the prosecutor regarding his fate after completing his examination. The detained person, according to police sources, has previously troubled police for fires in garbage bins and robbery.
