Local residents in the Saratov region, ages 21 and 16, were detained on suspicion of setting fire to a transfer cabin on railway tracks. A Telegram channel affiliated with Shot reported the incident. The report notes that law enforcement officers forced entry through the door of the transit cabin on May 9, 2023, along the Pokrovsk-Anisovka section in the Engels district, and subsequently started a fire inside the equipment area. The two individuals, a 21-year-old man with a prior conviction for traffic violations and a 16-year-old acquaintance, are the focus of the investigation.
Following their detention, the suspects were brought in for questioning as investigators probe the circumstances surrounding the incident. Officials have stated that the investigation aims to determine the motive behind the arson and to establish a clear sequence of events that led to the fire in the transit facility.
A criminal case has been opened under the article concerning deliberately damaging or destroying property, linked to the arson incident. If found guilty, the defendants could face up to five years in prison, depending on the outcomes of the ongoing inquiry and court proceedings.
There have been prior reports of similar activity involving school-aged individuals in other regions, including three students in Udmurtia who were considered suspects in arson against relay cabinets. The latest developments in the Saratov case underscore ongoing concerns about vandalism and property damage affecting critical railway infrastructure and the safety of the traveling public. [Source: Telegram channel Shot]