A man was detained by the Judicial Police on Wednesday in Covilhã for allegedly setting his ex-partner’s house on fire, driven by a desire for revenge and with intent to cause further damage.
The police reported that the suspect’s ex-partner had filed a complaint with the authorities, accusing him of domestic violence.
Motivated by feelings of anger and vengeance, the man allegedly entered the woman’s house—where he once lived—and set fire to “clothes and objects in the ex-partner’s room using direct flames with a lighter.”
Afterwards, he reportedly left the “gas stove burners open in the kitchen to cause as much damage as possible.”
Prior to these actions, the man had allegedly been consuming alcohol and drugs.
The intervention of neighbors, who alerted the authorities at the first signs of smoke, prevented further damage.
The suspect faces charges for the alleged commission of arson, explosions, and other dangerous conduct in an apartment building, home invasion, or disturbance of private life, as well as for animal cruelty committed on the same day.
The detained individual will appear for an initial judicial hearing for the imposition of appropriate precautionary measures.
The investigation is being led by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Castelo Branco.
