Two suspects, aged 49 and 51, have been arrested in connection with three fires that broke out in Anogyra on Sunday, which the Fire Department has confirmed were started maliciously. A witness recorded video footage of a suspicious vehicle and the fire scenes, which was later handed over to the police.
The fires began around 13:40 in the Anogyra community and were initially controlled by the Fire Department. Following further investigations, two more fire sites were discovered on agricultural land. The second fire was located 40 meters from the first, and the third was 100 meters from the second. The police, who responded swiftly to the scene, obtained a written statement from the witness, who described seeing a vehicle and a person moving along the road. Shortly after, the vehicle passed by, and the witness noticed smoke rising.
The witness filmed the incident and submitted the video to the authorities. According to the witness’s account, a man was driving the vehicle, with a woman as a passenger. After an investigation, the vehicle’s owner was identified, and it was confirmed that the two suspects are a couple.
The 49-year-old suspect owns a scrapyard near the fire sites. After their arrest, both suspects denied any involvement in the fires, claiming they were in the area at the time. As part of the investigation, 28 more statements are expected to be taken, and identification parades will be held.
Further inquiries will also determine if the area falls within a State Forest. The suspects are being investigated for conspiracy and violations of the Fire Prevention Law in Rural Areas.