Shortly after 6pm on Thursday last week, a shanty town in Son Serra Parera on the outskirts of Palma was engulfed in flames. One of the fastest-growing settlements, it is home to people from eastern Europe, primarily Romanians, as well as north Africans, Spaniards and some from other countries.
The dwellings were quite sturdy, but the wood was easy to burn as was vegetation where the shanty town is located. Palma firefighters were able to save some of the shanties, but there are people who have lost not just their improvised home but also those possessions they still had.
The National Police took charge of the investigation into the fire. On Saturday, the police received a call saying that one of the people living there had seen a person set fire to shanties. This person told the police there had been an argument between two of the residents, one of whom was the alleged arsonist, a 34-year-old Moroccan.
There had been a form of rental agreement. When the rent wasn't paid, the suspect was told to leave. He set fire to shanties out of revenge.
He was arrested, taken before a Palma court and then released.