Man arrested after setting fire to derelict building in Lanzarote with people trapped inside
A 20-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly launching a violent attack inside a derelict building in Arrecife, Lanzarote, before deliberately setting it on fire while several people were still inside. Police described the incident as extremely dangerous and said it could have ended in tragedy.
According to the National Police, the events unfolded in December when the suspect, who is already known in the area for previous offences, was caught trying to steal a mobile phone from one of the residents living in the abandoned property. When confronted, he reportedly snapped, hitting the victim on the head with a wooden plank and then stabbing him with a bladed weapon.
Police say that instead of fleeing, the man escalated the situation further by intentionally setting fire to the building. The fire spread quickly, fuelled by accumulated rubbish and belongings. With the structure partly sealed off and notoriously hard to access, escape routes were blocked almost instantly.
Two people trapped inside were left fighting for their lives as smoke and flames filled the building. Firefighters battled through hazardous conditions to reach them and ultimately pulled them out alive.
After the attack and arson attempt, the suspect fled the capital and hid in Playa Blanca in an effort to avoid being caught. Officers eventually tracked him down and arrested him on 27th January.
He has since been handed over to the judicial authorities.
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