Dominican Republic National Arrested and Charged with Arson

ROYAL POLICE FORCE OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Office of Strategic Communications (STRATCOM )

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dominican Republic National Arrested and Charged with Arson

St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, Thursday, 28 August 2025

The police have arrested and charged 31-year-old Luis De Los Santos, a native of the Dominican Republic with Arson. He is accused of causing the fire which destroyed the Immigration Detention Centre, at Coolidge.

It was reported that at approximately 4:20 p.m. on Monday, 18 August 2025, the Police and Fire Department responded to a fire report at the Antigua Air Station Military Base, where the Immigration Detention Centre is housed.
On arrival they met two detention rooms engulfed in flames. Firefighters managed to extinguished the flames, averting further damage to existing buildings.

The accused, who was detained by the Immigration Department inside one of the units, was treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries. He is expected before the court sometime today.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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