Athens court acquits beekeeper charged over Veikou Grove fire, citing video evidence he tried to extinguish the flames

Arrest and charges

A fire broke out in Veikou Grove, near the Filothei district of Athens, shortly before noon on Thursday 4 June. The Fire Service's Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes identified a 45-year-old beekeeper as a suspect after drone and video footage captured him near the hives. He was arrested on the evening of 4 June under the automatic procedure for offences caught in the act and was handed an administrative fine of €3,557.81. Authorities examined the possibility that the fire was sparked during the smoking of beehives, a routine beekeeping practice.

The court hearing

The Automatic Single-Member Misdemeanours Court of Athens heard the case on 5 June. The presiding prosecutor recommended acquittal, and the court found the beekeeper not guilty. In his defence, the beekeeper denied causing the fire through negligence, stating he arrived at the scene after it had already started.

I left Galatsi around 11:40. At 11:45 I went to a shop and the camera recorded me. I wouldn't have had time to start the fire.

He added that when he arrived the fire was already burning. He told the court he saw a young man on a motorbike and asked him to call the Fire Service because his own phone had no signal.

Video evidence

A video obtained by ERTnews and shown in court captured the beekeeper a few minutes after the fire began. The footage shows him attempting to extinguish the flames with a bucket of water. The Fire Service had also identified him in a separate video walking away from the area after the fire was brought under control. Drone imagery transmitted live to the Operational Centre in Marousi helped crews assess the situation and deploy forces rapidly.

Fire response and conditions

The fire started in dry grass next to the beehives and spread toward Filothei, fanned by wind. Residents reported seeing flames and thick black smoke at the junction of Botsari and Metaxa streets just after noon. The Fire Service announced at 1:30 p.m. that the blaze was under partial control. A total of 47 firefighters with two ground teams from the 1st Special Disaster Response Unit and ten vehicles were deployed, along with two helicopters and volunteers.

The municipality hadn't cleared the area of weeds. My spot was spotless. That's why my beehives didn't burn.

Wider enforcement context

The Fire Service reported that between 1 January and 4 June 2026, a total of 393 administrative fines had been imposed, amounting to €367,695.65, and 69 arrests had been made under the automatic procedure. The Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes and investigative units remain on heightened operational readiness, conducting continuous checks and assigning responsibility for legislative violations.

Public reaction

The beekeeper told the court he had been unfairly vilified online, with his photograph circulated on the internet, drawing the anger of fellow beekeepers. He said he had been publicly humiliated by the accusations before his acquittal.