A 40-year-old suspect has been prohibited from contacting the victims and approaching his mother, with an electronic bracelet being applied, authorities have confirmed.
A statement from the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) reveals that the suspect, after making threats against his mother and other cohabitants, used a lighter to ignite combustible material placed inside the kitchen cabinet, before leaving the premises.
“Upon encountering smoke coming from the compartment, the landlord couple used a hose to spray the area and control the flames until the arrival of the fire department, who eventually extinguished the fire,” the statement adds.
The PJ further notes that the location, comprising three contiguous autonomous units, “was at risk of destruction, exacerbated by the presence of gas inside the residence, creating a real danger of explosion.”
The detainee has a history of drug addiction and alcoholism, with a criminal record for trafficking and domestic violence.
He is now facing charges of arson in a building and domestic violence.
