Suspect wanted for Milan arson that killed 3 caught after Dutch burglary spree
A man who started a fire in Milan, Italy, which resulted in the death of three people, was arrested in Middelburg on Tuesday, police reported. He was arrested after a string of burglaries and thefts in the Netherlands. Italian authorities identified the Middelburg suspect as Washi L.
The fire that the man started on September 12, killed 24-year-old Pan An, and two siblings, 19-year-old Yindan Dong, and Yinjie Liu, who was two years younger. Two Chinese people suspected of ordering the fire were arrested in Milan, according to the Ansa news agency in Italy.
The owner of the building where the blaze broke out allegedly owed 40,000 euros to at least one of the Chinese suspects, according to two prosecutors involved in the case. They believe L. first threatened the intended target with a knife, then accosted the man’s mother a day later. He allegedly set their business on fire the following day. They alleged that L. only fled Italy for the Netherlands after news outlets reported that three people sleeping inside the business died in the fire.
Police seized about a thousand ecstasy pills, and 1.3 kilograms of a synthetic stimulant when arresting one of the two, as well as 45,000 euros in cash, and drug distribution materials.
This led to the Italian authorities putting out a European arrest warrant against L., who is suspected of arson, and two charges of extortion. According to the Dutch police, there are also other suspects in this case.
L. was arrested in his home in Middelburg on Tuesday after an investigation by the police into a string of burglaries and thefts in Zeeland and West Brabant led them to him.
He was brought in front of the examining magistrate on Friday, who ruled that he would spend two weeks in pre-trial detention. The Dutch case will be heard on January 2nd, in summary proceedings. A court in Amsterdam will soon review the extradition request from Italy.
