Man sets himself on fire in La Molineta

A 47-YEAR-OLD man doused himself with petrol and set fire to himself in La Molineta.

Passersby noticing that flames were quickly spreading through grass and bushes in wasteland, contacted the emergency services. National Police vehicles and firemen went to the scene in front of the schools near the Santa Isabel finca, but found they were faced with a case of self-immolation.

By this time there was nothing to be done except certify that the man was dead although the background to the case is now under investigation by a forensic team and the city’s homicide unit.  There was, however, little doubt that the victim, had intended to kill himself, police sources said.

The dead man, a Bulgarian identified only as M.G., was homeless and a familiar sight in the La Molineta where he used to sleep in the several empty houses in the neighbourhood.