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Two arrested over Australian wildfires: police
Melbourne (AFP) Feb 12, 2009 Two people have been arrested in connection with Australia's deadly wildfires after they were reported to have been behaving suspiciously, police said Thursday. Police did not specify that the arrests were connected to arson, which has been blamed for at least one inferno that killed more than 20 people. Detectives had responded to a call from the public about the suspicious behaviour in the north of Victoria state, a statement said. "The investigation is in its initial stages. Two people are assisting police with inquiries." Asked whether the arrests involved arson or looting, which has also been reported in the aftermath of the fires, a police spokeswoman told AFP she could provide no further details. At least 181 people died as a swarm of wildfires raced across the southeast state of Victoria during a heatwave last weekend and the toll is expected to rise as more bodies are found in charred homes and villages. Victoria's Police Commissioner Christine Nixon said earlier Thursday that at least one case of arson had been confirmed and others were suspected. "We're sure that the fire in Churchill was deliberately lit," Nixon said, referring to a fire in which 21 people died. "And we have now been given some information that makes us suspicious about the Marysville fire," she said. Marysville, a quaint hamlet of some 500 people was flattened in the fire and officials have warned that the death toll of 15 could rise to 100 as a grim search for bodies continues through the charred ruins. Related Links Forest and Wild Fires - News, Science and Technology
Milder weather helps Australian firefighters: officials
Melbourne (AFP) Feb 12, 2009Milder weather conditions brought some relief to Australian firefighters Thursday as they battled wildfires that have killed at least 181 people, officials said. |
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