‘ELECTRIC Blue’ Car Sought by Detectives After Fourth Greenock Firebomb Incident

DETECTIVES are pleading for people to come forward with information to help them catch fire attack culprits after a fourth property was targeted in Greenock.

Officers now have a dedicated email address for any witnesses to use in relation to the spate of targeted fire attacks in the town.

Emergency services were called around 10.25pm on Monday to the latest blaze, at flats at Kincaid Court, off Ratho Street.

Police Scotland believed the fire was set deliberately, possibly using petrol as an accelerant.

No one was in the flat but substantial damage was caused. Residents within the block were evacuated for a short time while firefighters extinguished the blaze.

An electric blue vehicle, possibly a BMW, was seen in the area when the fire was started.

It was first spotted around 9.50pm, driving down Ratho Street before entering Oakfield Terrace. It travelled past the junction with Kincaid Court before turning back on itself and turning into Kincaid Court.

The vehicle was seen to loiter in Kincaid Court for a few minutes before two men got out and ran towards the block of flats before returning to the car. The same vehicle left Kincaird Court a short time later, turning left onto Oakfield Terrace travelling towards Ratho Street and again turning left and travelling towards East Hamilton Street.

Around ten minutes later, it was seen travelling back down Ratho Street on to Oakfield Terrace and into Kincaid Court and three men got out and ran towards the flats.

Minutes later all three ran back to the vehicle and it drove away travelling along Oakfield Terrace, left on Ratho Street and towards East Hamilton Street.

Officers believe that the incident may be linked to the other wilful fireraising incidents which have taken place in Greenock over the past couple of weeks and this is forming part of their enquiries.

Detective Superintendent Gerry McBride said: “This is yet another despicable and reckless act of wilful fireraising in our community, and whether linked to previous incidents or not, I would like to reiterate that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

“Thankfully, nobody was within the property when it was set alight, and residents in neighbouring flats were evacuated and did not come to harm. However, this was a targeted attack which could have resulted in serious injury and we will do everything in our power to find those responsible.

“I am pleading to those in the community who might have information to please come forward and tell us what you know. We are also keen to talk to anyone who may have seen the electric blue vehicle described in the area between 9.50pm and 10.20pm to let us know anything you saw.

“We would also like anyone who might have private CCTV or dashcam footage of either the fireraising or the blue vehicle to check and contact police as soon as possible with anything relevant to our enquiries.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 3742 of Monday 28 September.

Police Scotland has also created a dedicated email address for receiving information regarding investigations into the wilful fireraising in the Greenock area — OperationTell@scotland.pnn.police.uk

Alternatively those who prefer to remain anonymous can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.