The threshold of the Thessaloniki Courthouse was crossed by 25 years old who was arrested today for arson in his forest Sheikh Su in Thessaloniki.

Against him, the public prosecutor brought criminal proceedings for arson of a forest, in the degree of a felony. The accused (a citizen) was referred to apologize to the 2nd ordinary investigator of Thessaloniki, from whom he received a deadline and remains in custody.

According to the case file filed by the Fire Department, he is accused of causing two fires – a short distance from each other – with a naked flame (lighter), near Philippi. From the two fires, pine needles, dry grass, branches, bushes and pine trees were scorched, in an area of ​​530 square meters, as stated in the same case file.

“Strangers stripped me and set me on fire”

He himself, testifying during the preliminary investigation, denied the act attributed to him.

He reportedly told fire officials that at 1 a.m. he had an argument in the Castles with four young people (three men and one woman), whom he did not know.

These individuals – always according to his claims – put him against his will in a car and took him to Sheikh Su, where they removed his shoes, shirt and socks, threatened to burn him, and physically abused him .

The 25-year-old, who is reportedly attending a drug rehabilitation program, then testified that the four people surrounded him by pouring “zip oil” on his feet, causing a fire.

“Because the fire got bigger they got scared and left, while it was already dawn” he seems to have said.

Because he had no clothes and was cold he collected pine needles and placed them on the side of the dirt road, lighting a fire to keep warm.

As he fell asleep, he said, he awoke at one point to find his hair singed and tried to put out the fire.

Kikilias: Pine needles and a lighter were found on the 25-year-old arsonist

In his post on social media, the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias reported that pine needles and a lighter were found on the arsonist.

“There were two outbreaks in Sheikh Soo at a distance of 150 meters from each other. A 25-year-old man was arrested with his hair burnt, while pine needles and a lighter were found on him,” wrote Mr. Kikilias.

For his arrest, the Fire Service announced the following:

“He was arrested today, June 7, 2024, as part of the spontaneous procedure by investigative officers of the DIPYN. Thessaloniki, citizen, as the culprit of intentionally causing arson, in the Sheikh Sou forest in Thessaloniki, while the participation of other individuals is also being examined.