Isha Sesay
A HOMELESS man has been arrested for allegedly starting a fire at Palma de Mallorca’s Son Sant Joan airport.
At approximately 1.30pm on November 6, plumes of thick black smoke could be seen billowing from the airport’s car park.
Responding firefighters quickly doused the flames, however four parked cars were completely destroyed in the blaze.
The parking facility also suffered considerable damage.
According to Policia Nacional, a Swiss man, 32, was spotted acting suspiciously at the scene.
A body search uncovered several lighters and a bottle of butane in his possession.
A review of the airport’s CCTV footage before the fire began also showed the man standing between two of the cars which were later burned to the ground.
A few minutes later he moved away from the vehicles and smoke could be seen coming from one of the cars.
Investigators say the man is homeless and had been sheltering in the airport’s car park in recent weeks.
He has been released from custody but has been prohibited from entering the grounds of Son Sant Joan.
It comes weeks after a fake bomb threat almost caused an evacuation at the airport.
A call from Madrid had warned that there was an explosive device hidden somewhere in the building.
Authorities soon verified that there were no suspicious packages.
