Spain's Public Prosecutor's Office is seeking 12 years in prison for a 50-year-old Italian man accused of deliberately starting a fire at commercial premises in Platja d’en Bossa, Sant Josep.

The incident took place in the early hours of October 19, 2024, when a fire spread from one business to neighbouring premises and the residential building above them.

The case will go before the Audiencia Provincial in Ibiza on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

Fire Started in the Early Hours

According to the Fiscalía's indictment, the accused was in the area around Carrer de les Alzines where he sometimes slept.

Prosecutors allege that at around 05:45 he set fire to sheets of paper inside the covered terrace of one of the businesses.

The fire allegedly spread rapidly, with the prosecution saying that motorcycles and other vehicles containing fuel helped accelerate the flames.

Flames Spread to Neighbouring Premises

The fire did not remain confined to the establishment where it allegedly began.

According to the prosecution, the flames spread to two adjoining commercial premises and then affected the residential building above them.

Residents were evacuated from the building while firefighters worked to contain the blaze.

The prosecution alleges that the accused knew the building was occupied and that residents were asleep inside their homes at the time.

Three Residents Suffered Injuries

Three women living in the building suffered injuries as a result of the fire, according to the indictment.

The injuries were primarily related to smoke inhalation.

One woman also experienced reactive anxiety, while another suffered respiratory problems, mild chest pain and a dry cough.

The affected residents received medical treatment and the prosecution says their injuries resulted in between one and two days of basic personal harm.

Firefighters Worked Into the Morning

The emergency response continued for several hours.

Firefighters from Ibiza attended the scene with equipment including an urban fire engine, a water tanker and an aerial ladder.

The fire was brought under control at around 08:00, according to the prosecution's account.

Contemporary reports from the day of the incident said the fire had begun shortly before 06:00 and required the evacuation of residents from apartments above the businesses.

Significant Damage to the Business

The establishment where the fire allegedly began was completely destroyed.

The prosecution's description of the damage includes the metal structure and exterior terraces, toilets and bar areas, computer systems and air-conditioning equipment.

A large quantity of vehicles and equipment was also inside the premises.

The indictment lists 22 motorcycles, 27 electric scooters or bicycles, seven additional motorcycles, 200 helmets, 34 storage boxes and 13 replacement batteries among the items affected.

More Than €421,000 in Compensation Sought

The Fiscalía is seeking €421,514.15 in compensation for material damage connected with the affected premises and business.

This amount is the compensation claimed in the prosecution's case and should not be presented as a final court award.

The eventual amount of any civil compensation will depend on the judicial proceedings.

Prosecution Charges

The Fiscalía classifies the alleged conduct as a crime of causing a fire that endangered the life and physical integrity of other people.

It is also bringing three minor injury offences in connection with the three women who were affected.

For each of the three minor injury offences, prosecutors are seeking two months' worth of fines at a daily rate of €10.

Prosecutors Say There Was a Risk to Residents

A central element of the prosecution's argument is that the accused allegedly knew the building above the premises was inhabited.

The Fiscalía maintains that he was aware that people were sleeping in their homes when the fire was allegedly started.

This is relevant to the prosecution's classification of the alleged offence as a fire that endangered people's lives or physical integrity.

The assertion remains part of the prosecution case and will be considered by the court.

The Fire Was Investigated as Deliberate

The original fire was initially treated as a serious incident whose cause had not yet been established.

A subsequent Guardia Civil investigation concluded that the fire had been deliberately started and identified a suspect.

Contemporary reporting in November 2024 said a German man aged 48 had been arrested as the alleged perpetrator of the arson investigation. The current prosecution report identifies the defendant in the forthcoming trial as a 50-year-old Italian man. Because those published descriptions do not match, the earlier arrest details are not relied upon here as establishing the defendant's identity.

Trial on September 24

The criminal trial is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Audiencia Provincial.

The court will hear the prosecution's allegations together with the defence case and examine the evidence presented during the proceedings.

The 12-year prison term requested by the Fiscalía is a prosecution request, not a sentence already imposed.

No Conviction Has Been Established

The accused must be presumed innocent unless and until a court establishes guilt in accordance with the law.

The allegations concerning the deliberate ignition of the fire, knowledge that residents were inside the building and the extent of the accused's responsibility must therefore be treated as claims contained in the prosecution case.

The court will determine whether those allegations are proven.

Damage Extended Beyond the Original Premises

The consequences of the fire went beyond the business where it allegedly started.

Neighbouring premises were affected, while the residential building above the establishments suffered damage to its façade and various communal and private areas.

Residents also had to leave the building during the emergency response.

The case therefore concerns both the alleged origin of the fire and its consequences for people and property in the surrounding building.

A Fire That Forced Residents From Their Homes

The original emergency response required residents to be evacuated because of smoke and the spread of the flames.

Contemporary reports recorded four people receiving medical treatment for smoke inhalation and two residents being helped out of their homes by firefighters.

The prosecution's later indictment records three female residents as having suffered injuries relevant to the criminal case.

The difference in the figures reflects the distinction between people medically attended during the emergency and the three residents whose injuries are included in the prosecution's formal charges.

What the Court Will Decide

The Audiencia Provincial will ultimately have to determine whether the evidence supports the prosecution's account of how the fire began, whether the accused was responsible and whether the legal requirements for the offences charged have been established.

If the court reaches a conviction, it will also determine the appropriate sentence and civil liability.

Until then, the prosecution's requested 12-year sentence and the €421,514.15 compensation claim remain requests rather than final judicial decisions.

September 24 Hearing

The case returns to court almost two years after the October 19, 2024 fire.

The hearing will examine an incident that destroyed commercial premises, damaged the residential building above them and resulted in medical treatment for residents.

The prosecution is asking for 12 years in prison, additional fines for three minor injury offences and compensation for the material losses it attributes to the fire.

The final outcome will depend on the evidence presented before the Audiencia Provincial on September 24.