A 32-year-old man was taken into custody in Alicante by officers from the National Police and the Local Police. He is accused of setting fire to two separate containers just 40 minutes apart and attempting to ignite a fire on Monte Tossal, a nearby area of interest.
The incident began early in the day when police intervention occurred around half past nine in the morning. Officers from both policing bodies were alerted via 112 after reports that an urban container housing plastic waste on Pintor Velázquez Street was in flames. Fire crews arrived at the scene and worked to extinguish the blaze before it could threaten the adjacent residences.
As responders stood by, another call came in reporting a new fire involving a plastic container on Master Knight Street, a short distance away. Firefighters and police quickly responded to the second incident. While some crews battled the flames, investigators began tracking the arsonist after a Local Police officer observed a man acting suspiciously in the area.
About 40 minutes after the initial container fire, a National Police patrol located the suspect near Monte Tossal. The man altered his direction upon spotting the police and ignored commands to stop.
caught
The suspect was then apprehended in a moment described by witnesses as tense. Several bystanders alerted officers to a new fire in the wooded area of Monte Tossal, in the direction the man had previously traveled. The individual was carrying a lighter, and soot stained his hands from the earlier flames. Following identification, authorities confirmed prior similar acts and arrested him on charges of criminal damage.
The fire on Monte Tossal was initially brought under control by a coordinated effort that involved National Police and Local Police officers, followed by firefighters who also addressed the blaze in the second container. The Provincial Police Department noted that without this swift response, the damage could have been far more extensive and dangerous.
Authorities are continuing to verify whether the detainee is connected to other arson incidents that affected containers in Alicante in recent days. After completing the necessary procedures, the suspect will be handed over to the on-duty court for further action.