During the past two months, 114 rubbish containers and 18 cars have been deliberately set on fire in the Huelin district of Málaga and the police investigation, codenamed ‘Operation Hell’, has now resulted in six arrests.
Five men and one woman have been arrested, the detainees being of very different ages and circumstances. Four of the detainees fit the profile of arsonist, the other two acted out of revenge or purely for vandalism. Some are homeless, and after being caught said that they started the fires to keep warm.
The latest person to be arrested was caught by plainclothes police officers as he allegedly tried to set fire to two containers in calle Jacinto Verdaguer. The suspect, who has a history of setting fire to vehicles, reacted violently when apprehended and has been remanded in custody.