Man arrested after four arson attacks on single street in Kangasala

A 36-year-old local man has been remanded in custody on suspicion of arson, attempted arson, and two counts of criminal damage after setting four fires along Vääränkalliontie in Kangasala, reports Yle.

The fires were started in bicycle storage areas of apartment buildings and once in a stairwell. The man was detained at the end of June following the most recent blaze.

Police remanded him in custody on Tuesday due to fears he would continue offending. The suspect has admitted to the acts, but his motive remains unclear, according to lead investigator Antti Uusipaikka of the Central Finland Police.

The first fire occurred in April in the bicycle storage of an empty apartment building at Vääränkalliontie 14, which was later demolished. In May, the man allegedly set fire to items in the bicycle storage of an occupied building at Vääränkalliontie 8. These incidents are being investigated as criminal damage.

On 26 June, he allegedly started another fire in the same building’s bicycle storage, producing thick black smoke but causing no injuries. After firefighters extinguished this blaze, the man set a second fire in the building’s stairwell and was subsequently identified and arrested.

Police suspect all fires were deliberately set, as no natural cause has been found. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, with charges expected by 4 September.