A person has been arrested in Mirdita, after allegedly setting fire to several fireplaces in the village of Gziq in Rrëshen. According to the Ministry of Interior, the suspect was caught by the State Police while lighting three fireplaces, which burned about 400 square meters of forest area.
After the arrest, the Minister of Interior, Besfort Lamallari, called on the Prosecution to investigate the case to the end and bring the perpetrator to justice:
"Fires are not "disasters". When they are intentional, they are a crime that is destined to be repeated if it goes unpunished with all the force of law and justice!"
The footage is clear: Police have arrested a suspected arsonist in the act today, after he is suspected of starting several fires in Mirdita.
An arsonist, resident of the village of Gziq in Rrëshen, clearly set fire to 3 fires in his village, burning a forest area of 400m², which was fortunately brought under control by the Mirdita police services, who had been pursuing him on the ground for three days. This citizen is suspected of being the author of several other arson attacks in the territory of the Mirdita Municipality. Other fires were prevented by his arrest in flagrante delicto by the State Police.
Now it's justice's turn.
My appeal to the Prosecutor's Office is direct: this matter must go to the end. Full investigation, full evidence and criminal liability for the perpetrator, if his guilt is proven as the perpetrator himself admitted at the time of his arrest.
No arsonist should expect to get away with it.
Not in Mirdita.
Not in Kruja.
Not in Lura, Dibër.
Not anywhere in Albania.
The police have referred several cases and will continue to do their duty to identify and arrest the perpetrators. The prosecution and the courts must do their part: ensure that crime does not go unpunished.
"Arson is a crime with a perpetrator. Failure to react in time and with all the force and mechanisms of the law is the real 'disaster'!" said Lamallari.
