The police in Rijeka stopped five Austrians, all with engine problems.

On August 16, 2026, four individuals were detained in the area of Benkovac, Croatia, under suspicion of being linked to a series of wildfires that had erupted in the region over recent days. According to unconfirmed reports shared by RTL, among those arrested were three Croatian citizens and one foreign national. The suspects were reportedly identified by a married couple near Raštević, close to Benkovac, who noticed them deliberately setting fire to vegetation and immediately alerted the police. The Zadar police confirmed that four people had been detained on a broader area of Benkovac due to suspicions they might be connected to the arson incidents. The police acted following reports from local residents about suspicious behavior during the evening hours. Officers quickly located and stopped the vehicle in which the four individuals were traveling. All four were taken into official premises, where a criminal investigation was initiated to determine their activities in the area and whether there was any connection to the fires that had recently broken out in the Zadar region. According to further unverified information from RTL, among the detainees were three Croatian nationals and one foreign citizen. The married couple who spotted the group near Raštević, close to Benkovac, reported the incident to the authorities immediately upon witnessing the act. Investigators are currently examining whether there is a link between the detained individuals and the numerous fires that have occurred in the Benkovac area. HRT also noted that, based on its unofficial information, among the detainees were Croatian citizens. Throughout the previous day and night, firefighters intervened in multiple instances of open-space fires. Fires broke out in Biljane, Lisan, Tinj, Zapužane, Zagrad, Dobropolje, and areas around Biograd na Moru and Privlaka. Rapid interventions by firefighters managed to bring the fires under control, although the frequent occurrence of fires on a relatively small area has prompted the police to investigate all circumstances thoroughly. Legal experts have pointed out that intentionally causing fires can result in fines ranging from €1,990 to €19,900 or imprisonment for up to 60 days. In cases of severe consequences, more stringent penalties may apply. “The basic criminal offense is endangering property and life through dangerous actions. Less serious offenses are punishable with up to three years, while intentional acts carry a penalty of five years,” explained attorney Ivo Farčić in a prior interview with Dnevnik. He added that incidents such as those witnessed in Omis could potentially fall under a qualified form of crime against public safety, carrying penalties of up to ten years. In this case, the death of one person would likely lead to a sentence of up to fifteen years. Firefighters responded swiftly to multiple wildfires across the region, managing to contain each blaze before it could spread further. However, the frequency of these incidents has raised concerns among local authorities, prompting a thorough investigation into potential causes and responsible parties. As the inquiry continues, the focus remains on identifying any connections between the detained individuals and the ongoing pattern of fires that have affected several locations in the area.