Arson probe after four Gloucester fires
AN arson attack may be to blame for a fire which devastated a Quaker's meeting place.
The Friends Meeting House at Greyfriars, off Southgate Street, has been left a blackened shell of its former self after the suspected deliberate attack.
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damaged: Gloucester Quaker's Friends Meeting House.
Vandals struck between 11pm on Wednesday last week and 10.30am the next day.
It is thought a window was smashed and a fire started inside the property.
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Builders and decorators are now working to bring the building back into use.
The attack is being linked to three other suspicious fires as police launch an investigation.
A wooden outbuilding caught fire at a business in Kimbrose Way on August 29.
There was a fire in a large bin at the rear of a hotel on Southgate Street in the early hours of July 17.
And an outbuilding at a hotel on Commercial Road was ablaze overnight between July 3 and July 4.
Chief Inspector Neil Smith, from Gloucestershire police, said: "We are currently working with our colleagues in the Fire and Rescue Service to thoroughly investigate these crimes and we are asking for the community's assistance.
"We are urging local residents to report any suspicious activity to us immediately, no matter how small it seems. We would much rather receive calls of suspicious circumstances that turn out to be legitimate than miss an opportunity to prevent a crime or detain an offender."
Police are also investigating a fire at a home in St Michael's Square on Tuesday morning. However they do not believe this is linked to the other incidents.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, where they can leave information anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Comments
by FreeRadical1
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 5:40PM
“Often bored kids, possibly with ADHD. I know of a lad, who I believe now to be on ritalin, who committed his first arson on the family's shed at the age of six years. He was a total nightmare for the next six years, then suddenly became like a different child. He had been diagnosed with ADHD. Chemical cosh or not, something very definitely changed about his upbringing a few years ago. Perhaps there are a lot more young people out there who would benefit from ritalin.”
by King_Shalom
Thursday, September 20 2012, 5:27PM
“Apparently many arsonists hang around to watch the fire they set, or even wait until the Fire Brigade have turned up to extinguish it. As some of the fires are so close to the city centre there has to be a fair chance that the culprit(s) has been caught on CCTV, but I am sure that the Police will be all over that already. Such senseless acts, whoever did it needs help before their actions cost a life.”
by Matt1006
Thursday, September 20 2012, 9:14AM
“Ysedra - alcohol and/or narcotics, in some cases.
Don't remember the last time I read about an arsonist getting caught up in their own fire. Shame - one of the little fire-starting s0ds getting burnt to a crisp through their own efforts might make others think again.”
by Ysedra
Thursday, September 20 2012, 8:52AM
“What is in these people's heads?”