Police appeal in bid to find arsonists as 40 cars hit
LOCALS are being urged to check their CCTV and doorbell footage for ‘two suspicious people’ following a spate of arson attacks on Sunday)
Avon and Somerset Police say up to 40 vehicles were destroyed after being set on fire in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke, Patchway and Stoke Gifford between 1am and 4.40am.
It’s believed more than half of the vehicles were minibuses belonging to a charity which provides transport for vulnerable adults and children.
Police are asking residents with cameras to review their footage and contact police on 101 if they see anything suspicious.
Detective Inspector Will Thorpe said: “We’re carrying out a thorough investigation into this series which has not only destroyed tens of thousands of pounds worth of vehicles but has left a charity unable to provide vital support to those in the local community.
“Officers have carried out a number of house to house enquiries already and have also gathered CCTV from the area which appears to be of significance.
“While we remain in the early stage of our inquiry, an initial review of the footage suggests two people were responsible for the attacks.
“A number of people have already contacted us with information following yesterday’s public appeal and we’re really grateful for the support.
“But we’re still keen to hear from local residents – particularly those in the Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford areas – who have CCTV, door camera or dash cam footage which captured two people together between 1am and 4.40am.
“If residents with cameras could review their footage and contact us on 101 if they see anything suspicious, it could prove to be crucial to our investigation.”
DI Thorpe added: “Our specialist crime scene investigators continue to work closely with our colleagues in the fire service to examine the vehicles which were targeted while neighbourhood officers remain in the area carrying out reassurance patrols.
“Should anyone have any concerns about this series I’d encourage
them to speak to an officer.”
Bradley Stoke North councillor Angela Morey described at is a “low day for our happy area.”
She said on Twitter: “Can’t believe the malice in torching the Four Towns community minibuses, a vital service for so many in north Bristol.
“This cruel act has long lasting repercussions and I will do whatever I can to help.
Call 101 with any information.”
Mayor and chair of Bradley Stoke Town Council, Tom Aditya, said it’s believed the arsonists used e-scooters due to the timings between blazes.
He said: “We are looking at different possibilities because with the amount of cars that have been attacked and the distance they travelled, it is actually thought some kind of e-scooter could be involved.”
Avon and Somerset Police received the first call at around 1.30am on Sunday reporting a vehicle fire in New Road, Stoke Gifford. By 5.30am there were further reports, with up to 20 vehicles set alight in locations across Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Gifford.
At about 3.45am more vehicles were on fire in a car park at RollsRoyce which first opened in 2020.
One eyewitness said he was woken by loud bangs and that the fire was controlled at around 5am on Sunday morning. Residents may have heard some of the vehicles’ fuel tanks exploding. Police have said there have been no reports of injuries or damage to buildings.
Among the vehicles which were targeted by the arsonists were several vans owned by the charity Four Towns and Vale Link Community Transport.
The charity provides accessible transport for people living in Patchway, Filton, Bradley Stoke, Almondsbury, Thornbury, and the surrounding rural areas.
They park their vans on the RollsRoyce site, and the arson attacks completely destroyed 12 of them, while another was damaged but may be repairable.
The vehicles which were damaged represents half of their entire fleet, and because of the attacks they were unable to provide some journeys today, including transport for the Disability Photography Group in Yate, two school services, a gentleman in a wheelchair to Paul’s Place in Coalpit Heath and an elderly person going to an exercise centre.
The charity’s chairman Dick Whittington said: “This is a despicable and mindless attack on a charity that provides a vital service to so many people, young and old.
“Our team of dedicated staff and volunteers are doing everything they can to keep the service going, we know how important it is to all our users.”
The extent of the damage is making it difficult to identify vehicles in order to notify the owners at this early stage of the investigation, it said. Police would like to hear from anyone who finds their own vehicle has been damaged, as well as anyone with information or dashcam, CCTV or other footage which could assist their enquiries.
Please call 101 and give the log number 124 of Sunday 3 April.
Alternatively, give information 100 per cent anonymously by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
This is a despicable and mindless attack on a charity that provides a vital service to so many people, young and old
Charity chairman Dick Whittington