In Murmansk, a 19-year-old man captured a dramatic event on his cellphone as he set fire to the local conscription office, prompting a police chase. A Telegram channel reported the incident, and the footage quickly circulated online.
According to the report, on the night between May 13 and May 14, 2023, the young man identified as Shamil Aliyev-Hasanov arrived at the military enlistment office. He recorded his actions on video, dousing a window with a flammable liquid and then igniting it. After starting the fire, he fled the scene and disappeared from view of the camera.
The resulting blaze damaged the workspace of the social assistance center manager, with furniture and office materials burned in the incident. Firefighters arrived promptly and brought the fire under control within about an hour, preventing the flames from spreading to other parts of the building.
Authorities launched an investigation into the arson. During questioning, the suspect claimed that the attack was a response to threats he had received on social networks, suggesting he acted in fear for his life from an unidentified online aggressor. Investigators are assessing the credibility of these claims and whether any coercion or intimidation played a role in the incident.
Shamil Aliyev-Gasanov reportedly had no prior criminal record before this event. The case has drawn attention due to its impact on a sensitive public institution involved in military conscription and social services, as well as the broader climate of online intimidation in which individuals sometimes fear real-world consequences from digital threats.
Earlier this year, reports noted another arson case at a military enlistment office in Tver, where an 18-year-old local resident was arrested after authorities say he set fire to a similar facility. The two incidents underscore ongoing concerns about security at enlistment offices and the challenges authorities face in preventing violence linked to political or social tensions.