Peabody Man Accused Of Starting Apartment Fire With Girlfriend Inside

PEABODY, MA — A Peabody man is facing multiple charges after being accused of starting a fire at his apartment while his girlfriend was inside Tuesday night, the Peabody Police Department said in a news release.

Police said they were called to the apartment on Lowell Street at around 11 p.m. Tuesday, when they found a fire alarm sounding and a woman yelling for help and saying her boyfriend was trying to kill her.

The Peabody Fire Department extinguished the fire and the woman's boyfriend, identified as 39-year-old Edi Diazabakana, was arrested and charged with arson, attempted murder, domestic assault and battery on a household member, and kidnapping, police said.

Diazabakana was set to be arraigned at Peabody District Court Wednesday morning, according to police.

The exact origin and cause of the fire are still under investigation and the Red Cross of Massachusetts is assisting the displaced apartment residents, police said.