The Mossos d'Esquadra and the Agents Rurals arrested a 37-year-old local man on July 18 as the alleged author of three fires in the Les Palmeres area, which threatened nearby homes.
Agents from the Mossos d'Esquadra and the Agents Rurals arrested a 37-year-old man on July 18 as the alleged perpetrator of three forest fires in the Les Palmeres area, within the municipality of El Prat de Llobregat. The fires affected herbaceous and shrub vegetation in a peri-urban area close to several homes, which, according to the Catalan police, posed a potential threat to residents due to the spread of the flames.
The intervention of the Bombers de la Generalitat was crucial in controlling the fire and preventing further damage. During the investigation, the Agents Rurals acted at three different points in the same affected area, where the evidence located pointed to an intentional origin. According to initial conclusions, highly flammable synthetic material was used to facilitate ignition and the spread of the fire, as reported by the Mossos in a statement.
The investigations allowed for the identification of the alleged perpetrator as a local resident. At the time of identification, the individual reacted violently, issuing threats and insults towards the officers. Agents from the Mossos d'Esquadra were dispatched to support the initial responders, and after identifying the suspect as the alleged author of the fires, they proceeded to arrest him for the crime of forest arson, as defined in Article 351 of the Penal Code.
This criminal offence carries prison sentences, without prejudice to the final legal classification determined by the court. Additionally, the behaviour displayed during the police intervention and the threats to the officers could lead to the imposition of new charges, according to the police statement.
The arrested individual has a criminal record and is awaiting trial for other alleged forest fires in the same area. His criminal history includes a fire in a protected natural space in the Delta del Llobregat. The investigation remains open, and the Catalan police do not rule out new proceedings related to this case. The detainee was brought before the duty court in El Prat de Llobregat.
Residents of the affected area have expressed their concern over the recurrence of these incidents, which endanger both the natural environment and nearby homes. Authorities remind the importance of citizen collaboration to prevent and report suspicious behaviour that could lead to forest fires.
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