“Serious indications of criminal acts and arson” were cited by the relevant public order minister on Thursday evening, as a hastily organized press briefing was held – and carried live by the state broadcaster – amid growing anger and resentment in Greece in the wake of Monday’s deadly wildfire east of Athens.
Nikos Toskas, the alternate minister of the citizens’ protection ministry, as his portfolio is called, also said he tendered his resignation to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, with the latter declining to accept it.
The death toll from the devastating wildfire that hit a coastal stretch eastern Attica prefecture, centered at the Mati settlement, is now at 83, with dozens of people still missing.
With the government spokesman, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos by his side, and with the heads of the police and fire brigade also appearing before reporters and cameras, Toskas maintained that the eruption of numerous blazes within a short period of time “leaves clear indications of the work of arsonists”.
He also referred to a “finding” near Mt. Penteli, to the west of where the deadly wildfire front emerged, that has significantly aided investigations, although he declined to provide more details.
Beyond the references to “arson”, the government side also cited what it called “extreme weather conditions”, namely, gale force winds blowing at the time.
