Italian authorities suspect the Mafia in the organization of large-scale fires in Sicily, The Independent reported.

As it is reported, law enforcement agencies have suspicions that criminals attached the rags impregnated with gasoline to cats and let them out into the forest.

“We don’t yet have the proof but we suspect that there are criminal interests behind these fires,” said Rosario Crocetta, the governor of Sicily. “It horrifies me that criminals in Sicily would set fire to national parks and centuries-old woodland, but there are speculative interests behind the fires.”

The edition notes that recently mafia made an attempt to kill the director of the Nebrodi national park, Giuseppe Antoci who is struggling with organized criminals who are making millions of euros on deception of natural funds of the European Union.

Antoci is sure that the fires did not break out by chance. He also considers not casual that some people are fighting for the construction of houses and villas in those areas of the island, where fires broke out, the newspaper reported.