Officers of the Arson Crimes Directorate arrested on Wednesday (27/8), in the act, a 62-year-old foreign national for intentional arson.

He was arrested in connection with the wildfire that broke out on Tuesday in Paiania, in a forested area near the Hellenic American College of Athens (Latsio), along the service road of Attiki Odos.

According to the investigation, the perpetrator was moving around on a mountain bike and set the fire using a lighter. He then tried to hide the backpack he was carrying, which was later found by authorities.

The immediate response of the firefighting forces on Tuesday afternoon led to the quick containment of the blaze, before it threatened homes and nearby areas.