After months of silence, the infamous "Black-Clad Arsonist" has resurfaced in Los Cristianos, Tenerife, keeping police and firefighters on high alert throughout the night. The arsonist, who has been under investigation since last year, set fire to at least 12 vehicles and a scooter overnight, causing chaos across the town.
“He kept the police and firefighters on edge all night,” said an officer who was part of the extensive overnight operation. Héctor Reyes, the Local Police councillor, expressed both concern and determination: “We are worried, but we are resolute in stopping these criminal acts.”
Witnesses Spot the Suspect
According to a police officer, several residents along Avenida Juan Carlos I reported seeing the suspect dressed in black, carrying a petrol canister. However, despite efforts by both the National Police and Local Police, the individual managed to evade capture.
The arsonist’s method remains consistent: setting fire to parked cars before fleeing the scene on a motorbike. “He couldn’t do it on foot; he wouldn’t have had enough time to set so many vehicles alight in one night,” said one officer.
Unlike last year’s sporadic attacks, where only two or three vehicles were burned in a single area, this latest rampage saw nearly as many cars destroyed in a single night as in the previous year’s attacks combined.
Coordinated Efforts to Capture the Arsonist
Local Police Councillor, Héctor Reyes, confirmed that authorities strongly suspect the same individual is responsible for the new wave of attacks. “We urge the public to come forward with any information that could help us apprehend him,” he stated. The heads of both the Local Police and National Police are scheduled to meet today to coordinate their response and accelerate the suspect’s capture.
A Trail of Destruction Across Los Cristianos
The fires broke out between 4:00am and 6:00am, beginning on Calle Pedro Bethencourt near the Apolo building. Ten minutes later, another fire was reported on Calle Rodeo.
The arsonist then set fire to two more cars and a motorbike on Calle La Marea, near Montaña de Guaza, before targeting Avenida Juan Carlos I, near the market and the Arona Gran Hotel.
Despite police patrols, civil protection units, and firefighters from both the Consortium and Volunteer Fire Brigade responding rapidly, they struggled to contain the destruction. Witnesses consistently described the suspect as wearing dark clothing, a cap, and carrying a petrol canister.
Not the First Attack
The last confirmed vehicle arson in Los Cristianos occurred at the end of November when several cars were burned in the town centre, including in the car park of the National Police station near Barranco de Troya. “All available evidence suggests it is the same person,” Reyes reiterated.
Authorities remain on high alert as efforts to track down the suspect continue. Residents are urged to report any suspicious activity to the police immediately.
