Albanian arson suspect arrested after July 17 fire in Anoixi, Attica
On the night of 17 July 2026 (00:33) a 50‑year‑old man of Albanian nationality deliberately ignited dry grass and waste near a forested area in Anoixi, Attica, Greece. Closed‑circuit video captured him approaching the spot, lighting the material and then walking away as the flames spread. Fire crews arrived within minutes, contained the blaze and prevented it from reaching the surrounding forest and nearby houses in Anoixi and Ekali.
The suspect was identified from the footage, located at his residence, handcuffed and taken into custody in an automatic (self‑incriminating) procedure. He now faces arson charges. He told investigators, "I was drinking and I don’t remember anything. I didn’t walk back home on foot that day."
The case is part of a wider crackdown on intentional fires: within a 24‑hour period authorities made six arson arrests across Greece (Attica, Crete, Messinia). Since the start of the year, 204 people have been detained for fire‑related offences, 579 fines totalling €789 000 have been issued, and 22 cases have been classified as deliberate arson.