Municipal Worker Arrested for Arson in Pallini

The news in Greek

1. συλλαμβάνω
   πιάνομαι από τις αρχές για κάτι παράνομο που έχω κάνει ↩︎
2. κατηγορώ
   λέγεται ότι κάποιος έκανε κάτι κακό ή παράνομο ↩︎
3. εμπρησμός  (m.)
   σκόπιμη πρόκληση φωτιάς ↩︎
4. απόδειξη  (f.)
   στοιχεία που δείχνουν ότι κάτι είναι αληθινό ή ψεύτικο ↩︎
5. αρνούμαι
   λέω ότι κάτι δεν είναι αλήθεια ↩︎
6. κατηγορία  (f.)
   η δήλωση ότι κάποιος είναι ένοχος για κάτι ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Where did the fires occur?

Question 2: What does the 48-year-old man say about the charges?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
συλλαμβάνω	arrest
κατηγορώ	accuse
εμπρησμός  (m.)	arson
απόδειξη  (f.)	evidence
αρνούμαι	deny
κατηγορία  (f.)	charges

Read the full story

Authorities in Greece have arrested a 48-year-old municipal employee in Pallini, Attica, in connection with a series of forest fires in the area. The individual faces charges of deliberately setting four separate fires during June and July of 2025. These incidents occurred in close proximity to a local music school, a centre for creative activities, and a mental health facility for children and adolescents.

The arrest followed an extensive investigation by the Department of Arson Crimes that lasted over two months. The case file was submitted to the Athens Prosecutor’s Office before an arrest warrant was issued. The suspect is accused of committing arson with intent, repeatedly igniting dry grass with a lighter or through the use of flaming materials.

Despite the substantial evidence collected, the accused has firmly denied any involvement, claiming during his statement that “the wrong man was caught.” His lawyer highlighted the absence of any items found in his possession that could incriminate him further, including a search of his van and personal effects. The defendant also refuted any alleged gambling addiction that supposedly contributed to his actions.

The characteristic features of the fires included their timing in the late afternoon and their occurrence in open or enclosed plots. Witnesses reported a noticeable increase in suspicious fire activity in the area recently.

Following his court appearance, the suspect has been placed in temporary custody as the legal process continues. The case has drawn significant attention due to the potential dangers posed to human lives and property by these fires.

Info: “Greek Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Greek”, a language school dedicated to teaching Greek through various online courses. For those interested in how to learn Greek fast, our resources offer a structured and efficient approach to mastering the language.