During the arrest of the suspected perpetrator of several fires in the Sant Antoni district, city guard officers confiscated a container with flammable liquid, a flashlight lighter and a box of matches among the suspect’s belongings. This police operation, described by the Barcelona City Council in a statement reproduced by the official media, is related to a series of five deliberate fires that took place between November and December, the effects of which caused alarm in the municipality and among traders in the area.
According to the information released by the Barcelona City Council, the identification of the person was possible thanks to images from surveillance cameras near the affected areas. Visual analysis was crucial as the suspect’s clothing was consistent with that observed during one of the incidents. Following this discovery, the municipal police located the man last Thursday on Comte Urgell Street as part of an operation involving the investigative units and the Eixample territorial unit, the municipal report states.
The confiscated items and the evidence collected support the allegation of deliberate burning of containers and street furniture on several streets in the district, the city council said. The fires under investigation occurred in various parts of the neighborhood, causing damage to public property and endangering the safety of residents and passersby. One of the most complex incidents involved a fire on the facade of a residential building, which created additional problems with evacuation and increased social concern, the council said.
The most recent incident involving the inmate occurred on December 17, when three containers caught fire on Villarroel Street, requiring the intervention of emergency responders to extinguish the fire. As the Barcelona City Council published, the actions attributed to the suspect caused more than just material losses. They also endanger people who are on public roads, especially during peak times, such as those traveling to school for minors and those passing through older adults.
The city administration stated that the fires contributed to the deterioration of the environment, the increase in waste and the worsening of pollution in the Sant Antoni district. According to official information, the expenses incurred include replacing furniture, supporting emergency teams, cleaning work and renovating damaged rooms. The atmosphere of concern among neighbors and traders was one of the points that highlighted the institutional environment, as the recurrence of accidents had an impact on the perception of insecurity and on the public discussion about coexistence in the region.
The investigation process was reinforced by the active cooperation of the residents of Sant Antoni, who provided relevant data to clarify who was responsible for the incidents, the city council reported. Citizen input, along with police coordination and the work of municipal services, was crucial to the arrest of the suspect and the collection of evidence.
Authorities continue to collect witness statements and improve preventive protocols to avoid repeating similar events in the future, the city council reports. The debate about the difficulties of evacuation and the impact of the fires on social cohesion was reflected in the institutional statements announcing new lines of work and prevention in the neighborhood. Open communication is maintained with the neighborhood to report progress and adapt local safety strategies.
The detainee has been brought to justice and the legal process is still ongoing, Barcelona City Council’s official media reported. The file remains active while municipal technicians assess the extent of the damage and the extent of material losses during the incidents under investigation. The local authorities emphasize their commitment to restoring common spaces, addressing citizens’ concerns and strengthening the quality of life of the residents of the Sant Antoni district.
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