Six cars owned by a local driving school were destroyed by a blaze in Chita, according to the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Trans-Baikal Territory. The fire is believed to have started from poplar fluff ignition, investigators reported.
On the evening of June 18, a fire broke out in a garage area rented by the driving school. Six domestic vehicles were rendered unusable by the flames. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, officials said.
The primary hypothesis presented by authorities is arson involving poplar fluff. In the vicinity of the garages, investigators identified a 12-year-old schoolboy who allegedly set fire to poplar fluff near the storage units. Police are conducting checks and gathering evidence.
In connection with this incident, authorities noted that criminal activity has occurred in the broader region in the past. For example, in February 2024, threats and violence surfaced on a road in the Moscow region when attackers crashed into the market manager’s car in Otradnoye, injuring him with stab wounds to the neck and arm. The attackers fled the scene but were later located and detained, with some suspects believed to have fled to the Krasnodar region.
There have been prior reports in Moscow of police stopping a pickup truck carrying seven individuals—another example of the type of crime the region has faced.
At this stage, investigators continue to examine all available evidence to determine the exact sequence of events, confirm the identities of those involved, and assess any potential connections between the different incidents. The ongoing inquiries aim to establish a clear picture of responsibility and to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Attribution: Trans-Baikal Territory Ministry of Internal Affairs reports and ongoing police investigations.