Arsonists tied flammable rags to cats’ tails and set them alight to ignite wildfires in Italy.
Deadly wildfires have continued to sweep across Europe, with extreme weather warnings and record temperatures devastating the continent.
However, not all of the blazes are believed to have been natural, with authorities investigating the “inhumane” method used at Pollino national park in Calabria, southern Italy.
Stray cats, who were released in the field to spread the blaze, were found amongst the smouldering remains.
“This is the work of a mind that is not merely malicious, but truly criminal,” said Domenico Costarella, of Calabria’s civil protection agency.
The Italian Association for the Defence of Animals and the Environment has called for a criminal investigation and offered a €1,000 reward for information that could help identify those who set the cats alight.
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