It's known how the fire broke out at Vjesnik; They wanted to film a TikTok challenge; Suspects shift the blame

Croatian media report unofficially that a group of suspected youths is shifting the blame among themselves.

Zagreb-based Jutarnji list has learned unofficially that a group of minors and young adults entered the Vjesnik skyscraper through a first-floor window at around 10:30 p.m. on the night the fire broke out.

They allegedly drew inspiration from social media groups focused on abandoned or little-used buildings. They only intended to enter unnoticed and film themselves for a TikTok challenge, but, according to reports, everything went wrong when the fire broke out.

The 18-year-old questioned denied any guilt, stating that he did not see the moment the fire started nor who exactly set it.

The Zagreb Police Department (PUZ) announced on Thursday that several younger individuals are involved in the criminal investigation.

The Zagreb police completed the investigation of two 18-year-olds linked to the Vjesnik building fire.

“It is suspected that the primary suspect, on Monday, November 17, around 9:50 p.m., together with the second 18-year-old suspect, arrived at the Vjesnik building on Slavonska Avenue, where they jumped over the fence and entered the premises of the company. After that, it is suspected that, together with another minor, they entered the building itself and climbed to the 15th floor, where they were met by two other minors,” the police report states.

It is suspected that the primary suspect started the fire by igniting a cardboard box filled with paper in the hallway with a lighter, and the second suspect also set paper from the same box on fire and then discarded it.

According to the police, the fire then spread to surrounding rooms.

“Following the criminal investigation, the suspects were placed under detention, and a criminal complaint was filed with the competent state office. The suspects have no previous criminal records,” the police concluded.