This conviction runs deep among many Portuguese, who since September 15 have returned to living in a state of panic and fear of seeing their lives turned to ashes, while 106,000 hectares have burned: these fires ravaging their country are not so much a climate crisis as a pyromaniac. And the doubts were clearly shared by their leaders, especially the prime minister. “[Luís] Montenegro announces formation of teams to investigate fires in past three years. We read on the first page of general This Thursday, September 19.
The government does not rule out criminality. On Tuesday evening, after the announcement of the death of three firefighters (two women aged 36 and 44 and a 38-year-old man) whose vehicle was caught in the flames, the Prime Minister announced that everything would be done to find the possible arsonists. According to Noticias Magazine. “We will not leave these criminals alone.” And he promised before he concluded: “We cannot forgive those who are unforgivable.”
In recent days, The public network announces RTP, The Gendarmerie has arrested seven people suspected of being behind arson attacks in the regions of Leiria and Castelo Branco (DA).