France arrests more than 300 people in connection with forest fires

French authorities have arrested more than 300 people in connection with a series of forest fires that have affected the country this year, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said.

Nunez said police had arrested 308 people, including 120 minors, Caliber.Az reports per French media.

The minister said those detained include suspected serial arsonists as well as individuals whose negligence is believed to have caused fires.

France has faced widespread wildfires in 2026 alongside several other European countries, prompting a coordinated response through the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism.

Earlier, the European Commission said 13 firefighting aircraft, four helicopters and hundreds of firefighters from multiple EU member states had been deployed to support efforts to contain the blazes across affected areas.

By Sabina Mammadli