In Moscow, a man lit a car on fire after being urged by a stranger he met online
Authorities in Moscow reported that a car fire was sparked after a person encountered a stranger on the internet who persuaded him to take part. This update comes from the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as cited by RIA Novosti.
The Strogino district police received a call about multiple vehicles being set alight. Law enforcement quickly identified two suspects and detained them. One detainee revealed that a stranger he had only interacted with through the Telegram messaging app had urged him to commit the crime, promising support and guidance if he joined with another person.
During interrogation, the arsonist said, “A person I don’t know called me on Telegram. I set a condition and asked that if I burned the car, he would locate me and take care of the rest there.” He also indicated that, according to the foreign individual involved, another man should participate. The detainee noted that he did not receive any payment for carrying out the arson.
The incident has led to the opening of a criminal case targeting deliberate damage or destruction of property and hooliganism, under Articles 167 and 213 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The investigation continues to determine the full sequence of events and the level of involvement of the online interlocutors.
In related context, authorities recalled a previously reported incident involving a Range Rover and a man at a gas station in Voronezh, which was captured on video. This material is cited here to illustrate how violent acts of aggression can unfold in public settings and the role of real-time digital communication in influencing such acts.