The arsonist who had started a fire in Villacidro on 10 July had acted in revenge, risking devastating a forest. Now he has been arrested: the investigative unit of the Cagliari territorial service of the Forestry Corps has taken Uta MB, a 50-year-old worker, to prison on charges of "arson in the forest".

A month ago in Gutturu and Forru a fire broke out that the Forest Service defines as "very dangerous": it affected dry vegetation next to a vast wooded area. Only the intervention of a fire-fighting vehicle from the Villacidro station and a team of firefighters had prevented the worst. The final balance had been 1000 square meters in ashes and a destroyed car.

The investigation started immediately: someone had noticed a person who had stopped at the point where the fire had been started, with the use of petrol, and then fled when the flames rose.

The rangers were able to reconstruct that MB in the recent past had threatened the owner of the land hit by the flames and that there had been no good blood between the two for some time.

In view of the circumstances, a report was sent to the Cagliari Public Prosecutor's Office: on the basis of the serious indications of guilt gathered and the high risk of recurrence of the offence, the prosecutor requested the application of the precautionary measure. Applied this morning, with transfer to cell, where MB is available to the judge.

Henry Fresu

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