A man tried to set fire to an apartment building. A negotiator and a tactical response unit had to be called in.

The incident began after an emergency line received a report about an aggressive man confined to an apartment who was threatening to set the building on fire. Police patrols immediately headed to the scene, surrounded the building, closed nearby streets and, for safety reasons, began evacuating residents. A police negotiator and a tactical unit were also called in, and the tactical unit took command on site.

Because of the threat that an explosive booby-trap (NVS) might be placed in the windows or on the building’s façade, the tactical unit also used a drone while preparing the operation. Using its cameras, officers closely inspected the windows to be sure they could approach the apartment without risk of explosion. Only after this check was it possible to plan the actual entry into the building.

Negotiations with the man lasted many hours, during which he repeatedly refused calls to leave the apartment and stop his actions. The situation was not improving and the operation commander ultimately decided on a forced entry. The tactical unit used special equipment to open the door and secured the apartment in a short time. The man was subdued and taken into custody.

During a subsequent search of the apartment, officers found a jerrycan of gasoline inside, confirming that his threats were not empty words. The discovery that he had prepared flammable material also fits his past — this is not the first incident of this kind for which this man is responsible. It was precisely his repeat offending and the police’s knowledge of it that led units to approach the operation with maximum caution.

After the operation ended, the building was inspected, residents were gradually allowed to return to their apartments and the area was reopened to the public. The case is now being investigated by criminal investigators, who are looking into both the dangerous threats themselves and possible public endangerment.