A neighbor reported a disturbing incident in Lleida involving a 39-year-old man of Portuguese nationality who is accused of attempting to kill his emotional partner by arson. According to a prison decision, the man, identified by initials as HAMM, allegedly sprayed the victim with a flammable liquid, set the house on fire, and then locked the door before fleeing. The case is being investigated as attempted murder and related arson charges.
The events unfolded in the early hours of Monday, around four in the morning, inside a three-story building. The fire compelled other residents to evacuate. One resident fled down the stairs with her jacket aflame, while another reportedly used a pipe to exit. The suspect and the victim were able to leave the building on their own and were the first to reach the street. The woman does not recall the exact sequence of events, but she indicated that the accused himself may have been the one who tried to kill her and that he later helped her to safety.
The victim gave testimony to Mossos d’Esquadra from the burn unit at Vall d’Hebron hospital. He described how his partner returned home around 23:00 on Sunday, searched his bag for money to buy drugs, and then left again. She then went to bed. At about four in the morning, the man woke up to a startling scene when he returned and sprayed his face with a liquid, muttering, “This won’t open, son of a bitch, i’m gonna kill you.” He then reportedly returned with another liquid, possibly acetone, and sprayed again before setting the area on fire. In his words, “You’re going to die now,” and “now I will burn them all.” The attacker allegedly attempted to strangle him, shouting during the struggle. The woman stated that after the attack she managed to escape by grabbing the man’s arm and saying, “Let’s go, I’m on fire too.”
Several neighbors corroborated that screams were heard around 11 p.m. nightly arguments between the couple were common, and one neighbor who overheard the woman pleading, “please don’t kill me,” did not panic, noting that such statements were often part of their disputes. Some residents saw the couple on the street just before the building caught fire, and the woman exclaimed that the fire had started.
contradicciones
The man offered a different account, claiming that when he entered the home, the woman had a fever and that he made several inconsistent statements, such as claiming that floor-to-ceiling windows were open when the door appeared closed. He said he left the scene and slept at a friend’s house, returning only later and being arrested hours afterward to avoid being identified as the suspect by others. These notes reflect the ongoing questions raised during the investigation.
Fire department crews from the Generalitat dispatched six teams to contain the blaze, which was reported around Plaza Major. After extinguishing the flames, investigators found a refrigerator placed near the apartment entrance and noted that doors and windows were closed at the time. The authorities are reviewing structural and forensic evidence to determine the origin of the fire and the sequence of events.
The court ordered the suspect held in custody while the investigation continues. Officials from Mossos d’Esquadra, along with scientific experts, will work to determine the exact timeline of the incident and the roles of those involved. The victim sustained burns covering about 18 percent of her body surface, primarily on the face and arms. Her condition remains serious, and she has requested protection as the case proceeds to prevent any further harm.