Two suspects in Vjesnik skyscraper arson moved to house arrest

(Patria) - Two 18-year-olds suspected of setting fire to the Vjesnik skyscraper in Zagreb were released from investigative detention to house arrest on Tuesday, with mandatory electronic tagging, confirmed the defense attorney of one of the suspects, Petar Barbir.

"The court's decision to impose house arrest was made on December 19, and before imposing house arrest, the Probation Service of the Ministry of Justice and Administration spent the last ten days checking if the conditions were met. After all conditions were met, including a stable internet connection to which the electronic monitoring devices are connected, the investigative detention of the suspects was replaced with house arrest," explained Barbir.

The defense attorneys had previously proposed that the two young men be released under precautionary measures or under house arrest with the obligation to wear an electronic tag, but the court rejected this proposal, stating that the criminal offense caused significant material damage.

The court had ordered one-month detention for the two young adults due to the risk of re-offending, Hina reminds.

On November 26, the Zagreb police began an investigation at the site of the Vjesnik building, which was supervised by the Municipal Public Prosecutor's Office in Zagreb.

Earlier, the police had filed a criminal complaint against two 18-year-olds with the Zagreb Municipal Public Prosecutor's Office for causing the fire in the Vjesnik building on the night of November 17-18 and handed them over to the detention supervisor.

The police accuse the 18-year-olds of serious criminal offenses against public safety, in connection with the criminal offense of endangering life and property by an act or means that is generally dangerous.

The police stated that on Monday, November 17, around 9:50 PM, the young men climbed over the fence of the skyscraper on Slavonska Avenue, entered the building, and started a fire on the 15th floor, and three minors were allegedly with them.

The media had previously reported that the other four minors, who were in the Vjesnik building shortly before and after the fire broke out, have the status of witnesses.