79 arrested for arson in connection with Greek wildfires

Greek authorities have arrested 79 people in connection with wildfires that continue to wreak havoc across the nation. Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias referred to the criminals as "arsonist scum," stating in no uncertain terms that they were "committing a crime against the country."

In just the past week, over 200 fires have broken out, leading to widespread destruction and even loss of life. Hot, dry conditions with strong winds have only fed the flames as crews try desperately to get things under control.
 

"Arsonist scum are setting fires that threaten forests, property and, most of all, human lives," Kikilias said in a televised news briefing on Thursday, telling perpetrators, "You will not get away with it. We will find you, you will be held accountable."

Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis told Greeks via the nation's public broadcaster that 140 people had been arrested in connection with the wildfires, and of those, 79 were arson-related.

As Sky News reports, authorities have been trying to figure out if the alleged arsonists were lone attackers, or working together. Supreme Court prosecutor Georgia Adilini recently launched an investigation into whether organized arson groups were coordinating with one another.

The largest fires have been burning for a week outside the city of Alexandroupolis near the Turkish border. Kikilias noted that in the northeastern region, the blazes began in numerous locations simultaneously. Earlier this week, 19 suspected migrants were found dead in the area.

A separate fire has been raging through dense forests north of Athens, destroying homes and putting a national park at risk.

According to Kikilis, this summer has been the worst fire season in Greece since 2009, and with conditions not improving and national resources being spread thin, Greek authorities have called on their fellow European Union nations for help. Germany, Sweden, Croatia, and Cyprus agreed to provide extra water-dropping planes, while Romania and the Czech Republic sent firefighters.