Police in Zadar have arrested four people suspected of deliberately starting fires in Zadar and across Zadar County at ten locations over two days, causing significant property damage and requiring firefighting operations involving both ground crews and aircraft.
The suspects are three Croatian men aged 46, 45 and 42 and a 33-year-old Polish woman. According to Zadar police, they are suspected of starting the fires on August 14 and 15, 2026.
The four were arrested shortly after 8 pm on August 15 after members of the public reported seeing a fire being started alongside a road in the wider Benkovac area. Police located the suspects in a car with Zadar registration plates and took them into custody.
Ten fires in Zadar County under investigation
Police suspect that the four acted according to a prior plan and agreement, deliberately starting fires in Zadar County using open flames or burning material ignited with a lighter.
The fires were reported at ten locations, including Bili Brig in Zadar and areas around Zemunik Donji, Galovac, Donje Biljane, Zapužane, Zemunik, Zagrad, Lišane Tinjske, Škabrnja and Benkovac.
According to police, the suspected acts were intended to endanger lives and property of significant value, potentially affecting a larger number of residents.
Car destroyed and 43 olive trees burned
Investigations carried out so far have confirmed significant damage at several of the affected locations.
At Bili Brig in Zadar, a parked vehicle belonging to a 53-year-old owner was completely destroyed by fire. In an olive grove between Škabrnja and Zemunik Donji, 43 olive trees belonging to a 48-year-old owner were completely burned.
Firefighters extinguished the fires in Zadar County with assistance from aerial firefighting forces.
Authorities say the full extent of the damage has not yet been established. Police, working with the State Attorney’s Office, are continuing inspections of the affected areas and gathering information about additional damage that may not yet have been reported.
Weapons seized during searches
As part of the investigation, police searched homes, other premises and vehicles used by the suspects under warrants issued by an investigating judge of the County Court in Zadar.
Police seized a semi-automatic rifle and 44 rounds of ammunition from the 42-year-old suspect. A handgun and several mobile devices were seized from the 46-year-old suspect.
Following the initial investigation, all four suspects were handed over to the detention supervisor of the Zadar Police Administration within the legally prescribed period.
A criminal complaint relating to the multiple fires in Zadar County, together with evidence collected so far, has been submitted to the Municipal State Attorney’s Office in Zadar.
Police and prosecutors are continuing the criminal investigation and further evidence-gathering procedures. Authorities said the final legal classification of the offences will depend on the facts established during the investigation.
