Zadar mother arrested after apartment fire leaves child critically injured

Zadar apartment fire child endangerment arrest social services investigation Zagreb Children's Hospital Croatia

A 36-year-old woman has been arrested and placed in custody in Zadar, Croatia, following a residential apartment fire that left her three-year-old son critically injured. Police suspect the mother of violating child rights and endangering life and property by leaving the child unattended in the apartment.

Investigators determined the fire was caused by a short circuit in an extension cable connected to a mobile phone and a fan. The child, who suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation, was transported from Zadar to the Children's Hospital in Zagreb, where he remains in stable but critical condition in intensive care.

Family members, including the boy's 18-year-old sister, have alleged that the family had repeatedly warned social and legal authorities about the mother's behavior for years, claiming the child was never safe in her care. Minister of Family and Social Policy Alen Ružić confirmed the family was already under social and legal protection measures prior to the incident.

Entities

Alen Ružić · Croatia · Croatian Institute for Social Work · Klaićeva Hospital · Rok Kralj · Zadar · Zadar Police Administration · Zadar Police Department · Zagreb · Zagreb Children's Hospital

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] The fire was caused by a short circuit in an extension cable connected to a mobile phone and a fan. ezadar.net.hr · www.jutarnji.hr · www.telegram.hr
[● 6 SOURCES] The mother was detained by police on suspicion of leaving the child alone during the fire. www.dalmacijadanas.hr · www.dalmacijanews.hr · ezadar.net.hr · hrvatska-danas.com
[● 4 SOURCES] The family was already under social and legal protection measures prior to the incident. www.novilist.hr · www.dalmacijanews.hr · www.jutarnji.hr
[● 5 SOURCES] The three-year-old boy suffered burns to between 40 and 60 percent of his body. www.dalmacijanews.hr · ezadar.net.hr · riportal.net.hr
[● 8 SOURCES] The child is in stable but critical condition and is receiving intensive care in Zagreb. ezadar.net.hr · hrvatska-danas.com · www.novilist.hr · www.jutarnji.hr · www.telegram.hr
[● 5 SOURCES] A 36-year-old woman was arrested and placed in custody for violating child rights and endangering life and property. ezadar.net.hr · hrvatska-danas.com · www.telegram.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] The boy's 18-year-old sister claims the family had warned authorities about the mother's behavior for years. dalmatinskiportal.hr · hrvatska-danas.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Zadar police completed a criminal investigation into a 36-year-old woman. ezadar.net.hr · hrvatska-danas.com · www.telegram.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] The child has sustained severe burns and injuries from smoke inhalation. ezadar.net.hr · hrvatska-danas.com · www.telegram.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] The child was alone in the apartment at the time the fire broke out. www.jutarnji.hr · www.telegram.hr