Police say the boy said he was frustrated because of poor results in school and faced difficulties in socialising with his peers.
A 14-year-old boy has admitted deliberately starting several wildfires in Portugal by riding to forest areas on a scooter and using matches to start a blaze in an interview with police.
Officers believe he may have been responsible for blazes in Seidões, Ardegão and Arnozela.
“The minor may have acted out of anger and frustration, given his poor school performance and the obvious precariousness of his social relationships,” the national criminal police, the Polícia Judiciária, said in a statement, adding that they hadn’t ruled out the boy acting as part of a group.
Police launched an investigation after wildfires repeatedly began in the same areas
The Braga Judicial Police, which carried out the investigation, handed the case over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which will then take it to the Family and Children’s Court.
By 20 August, police had already arrested 52 people on suspicion of arson. The data, compiled by the Lusa news agency, showed most of the arrests were made in August
