Algeria detains seven arson suspects as fire wave kills at least six

Seven people suspected of involvement in recent fires in Algeria have been placed in pre-trial detention as a wave of forest and scrub fires has killed at least six people since mid-July.

The official APS news agency cited an Algiers court as saying the suspects were detained over five fire cases in the provinces of Guelma, Constantine, Tipaza, Jijel and Bouira.

They are being prosecuted for alleged sabotage that endangered lives, public safety and property, as well as the deliberate burning of forest areas, according to the court statement.

One suspect is accused of setting fire to a privately owned agricultural site and destroying about 500 square metres containing olive trees, Aleppo pines and scrubland.

Algeria’s civil defence said on Monday that 63 fires affecting forests, scrubland, crops and oases had been recorded across the country during the previous 24 hours.

Authorities said almost all of the fires had been extinguished or brought under control.