Man detained after setting fire to a house in Anna (Valencia) with himself inside
A 36-year-old man was arrested in Anna (Valencia) after setting fire to a house with himself inside. Several neighbours and two civil guards sustained minor injuries from smoke and burns.
Detained at hospital after burning his own home in Anna
The Civil Guard has arrested a 36-year-old man in the Valencian town of Anna after allegedly setting fire to a house while remaining inside, according to a statement from the armed institute reported by ABC.
Agents were alerted by the Operational Services Centre (COS) following a report of a person behaving aggressively and causing damage to a property. Upon arrival at the scene, they found a man on the second floor with the door closed and observed smoke coming from inside.
After several attempted contacts without response, the civil guards forced entry by breaking down the door. Inside they found the man throwing objects into the flames of the sitting room: mattresses and textile items were fuelling the fire. The agents rescued him, brought him outside and managed to restrain him and handcuff him.
With the help of several neighbours, and before the arrival of firefighters, the agents extinguished the fire using buckets of water, hoses and the fire extinguisher from their official vehicle. On the first floor lived the property owner with his family, whose lives, the Civil Guard emphasised, "could have been in danger" had it not been for the swift intervention of the agents. During the firefighting efforts they also assisted a neighbour from the adjoining property who appeared to have difficulty walking.
Several neighbours had to be treated for smoke inhalation. The two officers involved sustained minor burns, as did the arrested man, who was placed in police custody at the hospital.
The man arrested is being investigated for the crime of arson endangering life or physical integrity and the crime of property damage. The investigation was carried out by agents from the Canals Main Station, and the proceedings were handed over to the Civil and Instruction Section of the Court of Xàtiva Plaza number 2.
Source: ABC