Guardia Civil officers have arrested a 26-year-old man in Callosa de Segura accused of starting a major fire on 11th May. The blaze destroyed several vehicles and damaged local houses, placing residents at serious risk. Following the incident, the suspect allegedly went on to threaten neighbours and passers-by with a firearm and two trained attack dogs, according to reports from the armed institute.
The young man faces multiple charges, including arson carrying a risk to life, robbery with violence, criminal damage, and causing injury. He attempted to flee from officers but was ultimately detained and brought before the courts, where his remand in prison was ordered.
The incident dates back to 11th May, when a fire broke out that completely burnt out several vehicles and affected two houses. The occupants, including an elderly person and several minors, were trapped without an escape route and had to take refuge on the second floor. They faced a severe risk to their lives due to the vast amount of smoke filling the property.
The investigation department of the Guardia Civil in Callosa de Segura took charge of the operation, requesting specialist backing from the Valencia Guardia Civil Zone criminalistics fire department, who determined that the fire had been started deliberately.
Following various inquiries and investigative work, officers identified the suspected perpetrator, a young man who already had a criminal record, and launched a search operation to locate him.
Subsequently, on 25th May, officers received multiple telephone calls alerting them to a man who was threatening neighbours and passers-by while holding a firearm and commanding two dogs to attack. Several people were bitten by the animals.
In response, both uniformed and plain-clothes Guardia Civil patrols from Callosa de Segura, with active support from the Local Police, launched a special operation to track down and detain the suspect.
The Torrevieja Public Safety Unit (USECIC) was also immediately deployed, executing two property searches to locate the perpetrator. Finding himself cornered, the man fled along the mountain slopes with his two dogs to seek protection. However, he was intercepted by officers and arrested.
The detained man is accused of arson with risk to persons, four counts of criminal damage to vehicles, criminal damage to occupied homes, issuing threats with a firearm, public disorder, illicit possession of weapons, robbery with violence and intimidation, and aggravated injury caused by using trained attack dogs. The suspect was placed at the disposal of the Orihuela Court of First Instance Investigating Section on duty, which decreed his immediate entry into prison.
