A 38-year-old homeless man born
in Spain to a Moroccan family lit the fire that destroyed the
UNESCO-listed former royal riding stables in Turin, the
Cavallerizza Reale, on October 21, police said Friday.
The man has been arrested by Genoese police, on a warrant
from Turin prosecutors.
He has been charged with attempting to cause a massacre.
The stables had been occupied by squatters for four years in
the northwestern Italian city.
The squatters said they had been woken up and saved by police
and fire fighters.
The alleged fire starter caused the blaze after a series of
rows with other squatters, after police disconnected an illegal
power line that was feeding the building.
The stables are part of the Residences of the Royal House of
Savoy, which gained world heritage status from UNESCO in 1997.
This status was granted because of its special architectural
features.
The blaze broke out shortly before 8am on the roof of the
complex.
Four fire brigade squads rushed to the scene but were unable
to prevent the building's destruction..
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