Hunt for two teens after Welwyn Garden City arson attack
TWO teenagers are being hunted after four cars were torched, a building was gutted and two further buildings damaged in an arson attack in WGC. Firefighters battled the flames from 2.30am, at Peartree Farm, in Peartree Lane, on Friday – although their eff
TWO teenagers are being hunted after four cars were torched, a building was gutted and two further buildings damaged in an arson attack in WGC.
Firefighters battled the flames from 2.30am, at Peartree Farm, in Peartree Lane, on Friday - although their efforts were hampered by more than 20 gas canisters on site.
The youths are believed to have set alight a Renault Megane, which caused a Peugeot and two Toyotas - which were parked close by - to go up in flames.
Eyewitness Stella Smith, of Home Meadow, saw flames shooting from the building.
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She said: "It looked pretty dangerous."
The building that was burned out was a privately-owned unit used for storage.
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Neighbouring units owned by React 4, which specialises in heating and plumbing engineering, and garage business A1 Services, were part damaged.
Sarah Wheatley, 41, operations manager of React 4, told the WHT: "The area was scorched.
"We were lucky the whole row of buildings didn't go and that we had no smoke damage, or burned interior, just cosmetic damage on the outside.
"It seems this is a crime of the current time, people with nothing to do.
"I'd like to say thank you to the lovely firemen who came and put it out."
Pc Cheryl Johnson said: "This was an extremely dangerous and irresponsible act.
"All four cars have been gutted as a result which, aside from the distress caused, will be extremely inconvenient and costly."
The two teenagers are described as white.
Witnesses should call police on 0845 33 00 222.
