Portugal police arrest arson suspect linked to Sintra forest fires

Portugal’s Polícia Judiciária detained a 34‑year‑old foreign resident suspected of deliberately igniting three forest fires in the municipality of Sintra on June 10 and 11. Authorities say the suspect used a lighter to set the fires in areas of shrubland close to residential zones, prompting swift intervention by firefighters that limited damage and prevented threats to nearby homes.

The arrest was carried out by the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo directorate of the Polícia Judiciária, with investigative support from the Polícia de Segurança Pública. The suspect will appear for a first judicial interrogation, where prosecutors will decide on any preventive measures. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about forest‑fire risks in Portugal during the summer season and the importance of rapid law‑enforcement response.