Israeli arrested in Greece for negligent arson after BBQ sparks wildfire

Greek authorities have announced the arrest of a 35-year-old Israeli national on suspicion of starting a wildfire on the island of Crete. The man is accused of lighting a barbecue in a forested area near the town of Rethimno, despite a burn ban currently in effect across the island. According to reports, authorities suspect that high winds carried embers from the barbecue, sparking the blaze. Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control after four hours of operations. The Greek government has significantly toughened penalties for fire-related offenses in recent years, with those found guilty now facing up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to 200,000 euros.