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Forest fire in the Algerian region of Tizi Ouzou
Photo: STR / EPA
Because they believed he was responsible for the current forest fires, an angry mob in Algeria apparently set a man on fire and burned him alive.
The country's prosecutor's office opened an investigation on Thursday into the incident in the Tizi Ouzou region, which was particularly hard hit by the fires.
All in all, according to the information, initially three men were brought to a police headquarters, whom the crowd accused of arson.
The mob finally attacked the guard and dragged one of the men out.
According to the public prosecutor's office, several police officers also suffered burn injuries when they tried to help the victim in the serious attack on Wednesday.
"Hideous crime"
Videos and photos of the fact spread over social media that night, causing horror in the North African country.
According to media reports, the crowd's allegations turned out to be false - the man had come to the area to help with fire fighting.
However, there has not yet been an official assessment.
The Algerian human rights activist Abdelghani Baladi spoke of a "heinous crime".
At least 49 civilians have died in the devastating forest fires, as the state news agency APS reported, citing the attorney general of the Tizi Ouzou region.
According to the state television, 28 soldiers were also killed in rescue missions.
In total, more than a hundred fires had broken out in Algeria's country.
The government is assuming arson.
France, meanwhile, wants to send two fire-fighting planes and a command plane to the region, according to head of state Emmanuel Macron.
"I want to give the Algerian people our full support," wrote Macron on Twitter.
wit / dpa