Man arrested for burning bins and the Mossos investigate if he is related to the Collserola fire

The Barcelona Urban Guard has arrested a man for setting fire to several containers and now the police are investigating his alleged connection with the fire that burned 54 hectares of the Collserola Natural Park this week. As confirmed by municipal sources to ARA, the arrest took place on Wednesday morning, after witnesses pointed out that the suspect had intentionally set fire to several containers on Carrer Palamós, in the Prosperitat neighborhood, less than 2 kilometers from the point where the fire originated. The man has been released after appearing in court, where he exercised his right not to testify.

The investigated individual, 46 years old, has appeared in court accused of setting fire to containers. Due to the proximity of the incident to the origin of the fire, the Environmental Division of the Mossos d'Esquadra and the Rural Agents have opened an investigation to clarify whether the detainee is related to the fire. Furthermore, according to the agents, a lighter and a cigarette butt were found in the area where the fire started while samples were being collected from the ground. For now, however, neither of the two bodies confirms the link between the events and the arrest of this man.

The fire began on Tuesday afternoon on Carretera Alta de les Roquetes, in the Nou Barris district, and forced the confinement of the neighborhoods of Torre Baró and Ciutat Meridiana and the evacuation of 35 residents for a few hours, between 8 PM and 11 PM. Since Tuesday evening, the flames have been considered controlled, and the firefighters are continuing their efforts to fully extinguish the fire.