Paris police detain 23‑year‑old for attempted arson in Bois de Boulogne

Around 23:00 on Friday, police were alerted to a small fire in the Bois de Boulogne, a large park in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. Officers found flames on a pile of dry brush that had spread to a tree trunk, extinguished roughly one square metre of vegetation and prevented further damage.

A 23‑year‑old man, born in 2002, was present at the scene and told officers he intended to set fire to the entire park. He was arrested, placed in garde à vue and his detention has been extended. The case has been referred to the night judicial police (STJN) of the 8th arrondissement.

The incident occurs days after massive wildfires in the Fontainebleau forest, which have burned about 2,200 ha, and amid a national season where more than 32,000 ha of forest have been affected. Authorities stress that the quick police response averted a larger urban blaze.