A MAN has died and a woman has been left seriously injured after a series of "unprovoked and targeted" fire attacks which have "sickened" the police.
Officers suspect the four incidents in Greenock, Inverclyde, may be linked.
In the first, a 46-year-old man died in a flat fire in the town's Union Street at around 10.30am on Monday September 14.
Police initially said his death was not believed to be suspicious but they now class it as a "targeted attack".
Two days later, a 40-year-old woman was seriously injured in a fire in a property in the town's Wellington Street. It is believed to have been started by a firebomb thrown through a window at around 11.05pm.
Her nine-year-old daughter was also in the property at the time but was not injured.
READ MORE: QEUH fire 'likely caused by a discarded cigarette', health board says
Three days later, on September 19, police were called to a fire at a home on Cumberland Road also believed to have been started by a firebomb thrown at a window. It did not break the window but set fire to garden furniture.
A 45-year-old woman and her three family members, including her six-year-old daughter, were inside but were not injured, and the blaze was quickly extinguished.
Police said that following the attack in Wellington Street, a small white vehicle was seen speeding off from the area.
Around five minutes later a white Suzuki Splash, registration GK14 FZE, was spotted speeding into Skye Street.
Three men, all in their late teens with skinny builds, got out and ran off into Rankine Street.
The driver was wearing a black scarf over his lower face and a black zipped, hooded top.
The two passengers both wore grey zipped, hooded tops with the hoods ups.
Hours later, at 2.20am on September 17, the same car was on fire on Skye Street. No-one was injured in the blaze.
Police have since found the car was stolen from the town's Denholm Terrace in the early hours of the previous day.
Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are investigating the incidents and any links between them.
Detective Superintendent Gerry McBride said: "I would like to start by saying how sickened we are by all of these incidents, whether linked or not, these have been unprovoked, targeted attacks which have resulted in both serious injury and death.
READ MORE: Internal Market Bill could 'weaken Scotland's Grenfell protections'
"A couple of these attacks have also taken place while children have been present and it has been sheer luck that the number of people injured has not been any higher.
"We want to make it absolutely clear that this behaviour will not be tolerated in our community and officers will do everything they can to find those responsible.
"It is also important to reassure the wider community that although inquiries are still ongoing, we do not believe there is any risk to the wider public.
"There will be an increased police presence in the area whilst investigations are ongoing. Specialist units have been deployed to both carry out inquiries and to tackle this problem and prevent any further instances occurring."
He urged anyone with information to come forward, particularly those who can shed light on the vehicles mentioned, including anyone with dashcam or private CCTV footage.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel