The man was arrested by the Arson Investigation Directorate of the Fire Department for purposely setting four fires between June 8 and 9 at the Cheroma section in Vari. His arrest was announced by the Fire Department and by Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias on Tuesday, the day he appeared before a prosecutor.

The suspect has graduated from the doctoral program in sociology at Pantion University and the Economics Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. According to his curriculum vitae, he has taught at the Greek police post-training academies for 12 consecutive years, and his inclusion on the roster of regular professors was confirmed by police.

Videotaped material from home and store cameras allegedly shows the 66-year-old while he is setting fires and on occasion ensuring a fire has started before leaving, official sources said, while the man shown in the video was recognized by neighbors based on his attire. The sources said that the 66-year-old had emailed municipal authorities to complain about uncleared fields in his neighborhood as a threat of fire.