Four arrested on suspicion of arson near Benkovac, Croatia

Authorities in Croatia have arrested four people, reportedly including three Croatian nationals and one foreign citizen, on suspicion of setting fires in the wider Benkovac area. The arrests followed a citizen's report of suspicious behavior in the evening hours.

Police located and stopped a vehicle carrying the four individuals, who were taken into custody for questioning. Investigators are examining their activities in the area and seeking to establish any links to the numerous fires that have recently broken out in the Zadar region. Unconfirmed reports suggest a married couple observed the suspects starting a fire and immediately notified the police.

Firefighters have been actively battling multiple open-space fires across the region in recent days, including in Biljane, Lišane Tinjske, Zapužane, Zagrad, Dobropoljci, Biograd na Torovi, and Privlaka. While firefighters managed to bring these blazes under control, the concentration of fires in a relatively small area has prompted a thorough police investigation into all circumstances.

Intentional fire-setting can carry significant penalties in Croatia, including fines ranging from 1990 to 19,900 euros or imprisonment for up to 60 days. More severe consequences, including up to ten years in prison, can apply if the fires result in serious damage or loss of life, as seen in other incidents.