He wanted revenge on his roommate.
And had set fire on the night of January 21 to 22 in the common areas of the building in which he resided in Villepreux (Yvelines), thus destroying two apartments and making the four others uninhabitable, but without causing any injuries.
The alleged perpetrator of this devastating fire, a 31-year-old man without a residence permit, was arrested in the middle of the week.
“It was a crew from the municipal police who, during a patrol, saw this man passing by who seemed to match the description of the suspect,” explains the mayor (MoDem) Jean-Baptiste Hamonic.
They decided to check him and found that he had soot on his hands and scratches on his face.
He also wore a bracelet with his first name, which ultimately identified him.
In his backpack, clothes and three bottles of wine were found,” continues the councilor.
For 48 hours, the man wandered around the town, squatting here and there.
He sets fire to a gas cylinder covered with furniture
Taken to the Plaisir police station, he denied being the author of the facts, giving a version in total contradiction with the findings made on site.
The suspect allegedly placed a gas cylinder in the hall before covering it with mattresses, sofas and other furniture, thereby blocking access to the staircase for residents of the two floors, before setting it on fire.
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He also allegedly barricaded the doors to the ground floor in order to keep residents in their apartments.
The reason: a dispute with his roommate.
Tenants staying in hotels
Today, black marks along the closed shutters and remnants of tape still bear witness to the violence of the arson.
“We condemned the building.
The expert visited in the middle of the week and must submit his report in the coming days,” continues the councilor.
The families were relocated by their insurance companies to hotels in Plaisir and Élancourt, while awaiting a lasting solution.
The owner of the building offered the rental of other apartments to residents.
Only one accepted.
“We continue to follow these families and we hope that they will all find accommodation.
We try to be facilitators, continues Jean-Baptiste Hamonic, who ensures that they can access emergency housing.
In this tragedy we feel relief that there are no victims, because everyone is unhurt even though it could have been dramatic.
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