A foreigner suspected of setting a blaze that caused extensive damage, estimated at 200 million rubles, was apprehended in Novosibirsk, according to the Zaeltsovsky District Court website. The detainee remained in custody until April 9, 2023, as the investigation proceeded. The court weighed the severity and nature of the alleged crime along with the absence of legal grounds for the individual to remain in Russia when deciding on the detention terms.
AiF Novosibirsk later clarified that on February 9, a fire broke out on Dachnoye Highway, engulfing a garage and a cottage belonging to the family of businessman and racing driver Dmitry Matveev.
The blaze destroyed a fleet of vehicles, including ten cars: two Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Bentley Bentayga, Lexus RX 450, BMW X5, Toyota Land Cruiser 300, Porsche 911, Dodge Ram, Bentley Continental, and Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Roadster. Investigators noted that the cars were not salvageable, and the total damage was reported at about 200 million rubles.
Earlier reports noted that in the Moscow region a truck carrying a household lighter caught fire following an accident, prompting further attention to fire-related incidents across the country.