A 47-year-old man is charged with suspected arson after setting fire to pillows inside the Dollarstore on Hälla in Västerås in early July.
A 47-year-old man is charged with suspected arson after setting fire to pillows inside the Dollarstore on Hälla in Västerås in early July.
Surveillance footage shows the man walking to a shelf in the store, placing an object among the textiles, and shortly afterwards the fire breaks out. The 47-year-old man has confessed to the crime.
In interviews he claims he lit the fire using a cigarette and describes the incident as a cry for help. He states that he is deeply remorseful.
The fire was quickly extinguished by the store's sprinkler system, but shelves were destroyed and the premises were smoke-damaged. About ten people are said to have been in the store, but no one was injured. The store states that the total cost after the fire is estimated to exceed 14 million kronor.