Police Hunt Arson Suspect After Incendiary Devices Found Under Cars in Andorra
Incident heightens fears amid recent arsons destroying vehicles in the parish, with increased patrols and checkpoints disrupting traffic.
Key Points
- Suspect seen at 7:10am placing devices under cars in Aixovall; shoes with lighter tablets recovered, tire smoldered.
- Three cars destroyed Sunday on Aixirivall road, fourth damaged; accelerants suspected from rapid undercarriage fires.
- October 4 fire linked to individual with prior conflicts; one suspect probed but links unconfirmed.
- Patrols intensified across parishes; traffic disrupted by checkpoints amid resident unease.
Police in Sant Julià de Lòria continue searching for a man seen placing incendiary devices under parked vehicles in Aixovall's industrial area on Thursday morning, as fears mount over a series of suspected arsons in the parish.
Witnesses reported the suspect around 7:10am near the Centre de Formació Professional d’Aixovall, in urbanització del Prat de la Jaia, behind a warehouse, and along Camí de Rocafort by the Os river—near the former Hotel Peralba site, now ARCA de la Creu Roja. Officers quickly secured the scene and recovered old shoes containing barbecue lighter tablets under at least one car, with one tire showing signs of smoldering. The man fled before police arrived, prompting checkpoints at the CG-1 and CG-6 roundabouts toward Bixessarri and Os de Civís. These measures disrupted morning traffic near the Camp de l'Avençader industrial polygon and Inspecció Tècnica de Vehicles.
No injuries occurred, but the incident has intensified scrutiny on recent fires. Sunday evening saw three vehicles fully destroyed—and a fourth damaged by heat—along Aixirivall road near a playground and Borda de les Pubilles restaurant. One belonged to a local merchant. Residents described flames starting rapidly from the undercarriages, accompanied by explosion-like sounds and quick spread, suggesting accelerants. Firefighters deployed six personnel and two vehicles, including a fire truck, around 8pm, while scientific police collected samples. This follows a fourth vehicle fire on October 4 in Aixirivall's old quarter, linked to an individual with a history of conflicts.
Police are probing at least one person for potential connections to these events but caution it is too early to confirm links or patterns between Thursday's attempt and prior incidents. They warn that releasing details could hinder efforts to identify methods or suspects. Patrols have ramped up in Aixirivall, Aixovall, Auvinyà, and Juberri, using marked and unmarked cars to navigate dispersed urbanizations. National security patrols have also prioritized the area.
The Comú de Sant Julià has offered full support, including personnel and equipment for coordination, reaffirming commitment to parish safety. Residents report growing unease, with some recalling a 1998 pyromaniac case in Bixessarri involving five fires over two weeks. Police urge restraint from speculation as inquiries proceed.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources:
- ARA•
Investiguen si l'autor de l'incendi de cotxes a Aixirivall és el mateix que el d'Aixovall
- Diari d'Andorra•
La policia investiga un home per intentar cremar vehicles
- Altaveu•
La crema de cotxes esdevé psicosi a Sant Julià: la policia es fixa d'objectiu descobrir els piròmans
- Bon Dia•
Un nou intent de cremar un cotxe augmenta el neguit a Sant Julià
- El Periòdic•
De tres vehicles calcinats a muntatges amb pastilles d’encesa de barbacoa: augmenta la preocupació a Sant Julià
- ARA•
Nou intent intencionat de crema d'un vehicle a Aixirivall
- El Periòdic•
Investiguen una possible vinculació amb l’incendi de diumenge després de trobar pastilles d’encesa sota vehicles
- Diari d'Andorra•
Alerta a Aixovall per un home que podria intentar cremar vehicles
- Altaveu•
El 'temor piròman' creix a Sant Julià: es busca a Aixovall un home que feia maniobres sota vehicles