An 81-year-old woman has been identified and arrested on suspicion of committing at least five forest arson crimes, the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) announced on Tuesday.
The fires in question occurred between June 26 and August 7 of this year in the locality of Outeiro, in the municipality of Paredes.
All these fires took place “always in the same access area, at close time intervals and on different dates, with at least two instances involving multiple fire sources created sequentially, apparently to maximize the impact of the fire.”
According to the PJ, in addition to endangering a significant forest area and many residences, these fires “burned an area close to 20 hectares of forest and brush, not having more severe consequences only because they were detected early and promptly fought.”
The 81-year-old woman was apprehended by the PJ with the assistance of the Task Force for the Reduction of Ignitions in Rural Areas – Litoral Norte (comprising members of the GNR, ICNF, and PJ).
The detainee, who “did not present any motivation for the fires,” will be brought before a preliminary judicial interrogation for the application of appropriate coercive measures.
