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Arrests for Arson

On Thursday morning (August 7), a 66-year-old man is expected to appear before an investigating judge. He was arrested by officers of the Fire Brigade’s Arson Crime Investigation Directorate after evidence emerged against him, on the basis of which the judicial authorities issued a warrant.

The Fire Brigade officials exploited video footage from the area, with the 66-year-old admitting that he was responsible for four fires on June 8 and 9, but not for the specific fire in Heroma, Vari.

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The 66-year-old is a doctor of sociology and an author. In the past, he has given lectures at Police schools and has his own channel on the Internet.

According to information, the videos that captured the 66-year-old moving and setting fires were taken by cameras of a house and a shop.

The footage from the first day shows him passing by a point where, in a short time, a fire breaks out, while that from the second night shows him throwing a flaming object on dry grass without finally lighting a fire. He then moves a few meters away and there he lights a fire in dry grass and walks away, but not before making sure that the fire has started.

There are statements from residents who confirm that the man in the video appears to be the 66-year-old based on his features and clothes.

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The defendant had complained by sending electronic messages to the local government services about unclean plots in his area, something that is being investigated whether it is also his motive.

Arrests for arson

The Firefighters also handcuffed a 33-year-old as a perpetrator of arson in the Aspropyrgos area. After his apology, the 33-year-old, who reportedly faces psychological problems, was remanded in custody.

It is recalled that three more people were arrested in Domokos for the fire in the Koromilia area last Sunday (August 4). They are two Greeks, aged 37 and 59, and a foreigner aged 56.

“The new penal code provides for sentences of imprisonment of up to 10 years for arson caused by negligence -as the offence has now become a felony- and up to 20 years for arson committed intentionally. We will not stop investigating every fire in depth, so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice and pay the consequences of their criminal acts,” said the Minister of Civil Protection, Vasilis Kikilias.