Walter Finch
A SPANISH teenager has been arrested in Gibraltar on suspicion of setting an apartment fire that hospitalised a family and killed their dog.
Juan Francisco Sanchez Valenzuela, 19, who lives in Castellar, has been remanded in custody after attending Magistrates Court this morning.
He is accused of starting a fire in a family apartment in Mid Harbour Estate in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Five people were rushed to Saint Bernard’s Hospital – including two children – after being rescued from the flames, with two adults currently in intensive care.
Firefighters were unable to rescue the family’s dog.
Emergency services had been scrambled to Wave Crest House after frantic reports of residents trapped inside the burning apartment building.
Terrified occupants were heard shouting for help while neighbours captured the moment the flames erupted from a window on video.
Three vehicles arrived at the scene within less than five minutes, while an extra twelve firefighters were dispatched to evacuate the building and bring the flames under control.
The Care Agency opened the Family Centre at Mid Harbour to shelter those residents ushered out of their homes in the middle of the night.
RGP Commissioner Richard Ullger said: “Last night saw RGP officers responding to a large fire, supporting our firefighter colleagues who bravely fought the fire and brought it under control.
“Today our detectives have arrested a young man. I am immensely proud of everyone’s efforts.”
Detectives from the RGP’s Criminal Investigation Department continue the investigation.
