A 50-year-old Albanian man was arrested Friday after surveillance footage caught him deliberately setting fire to dry gr...

A 50-year-old Albanian man was arrested Friday after surveillance footage caught him deliberately setting fire to dry grass and waste near a forested area in Anoixi, a northern suburb of Athens. The fire broke out at 12:33 a.m. on July 17, and the video, aired by MEGA television, shows the man approaching dry vegetation before walking away seconds before the first flames appear. The fire threatened to spread into the forests of Anoixi and Ekali, putting nearby homes at direct risk. Firefighting crews responded quickly and brought the blaze under control before it could reach the woodland. Investigators from the Arson Crimes Division and criminal investigation units identified the suspect from the footage and located him at his home. He was arrested under the flagrante delicto procedure, meaning authorities had enough immediate evidence to detain him without delay. Arson near forested areas carries severe penalties under Greek law, particularly during the summer fire season when dry conditions can turn a small flame into a catastrophic wildfire within minutes. The fact that the fire was set adjacent to a protected forest area is expected to weigh heavily in the charges against him. Greek authorities have ramped up surveillance and rapid-response operations around forested areas in recent years after devastating fires, and this case shows that camera networks and coordinated police action can move fast when the evidence is clear. The arrest came on the same night as the fire itself. #Greece #Arson #Wildfire