Fire attack at Arbroath block of flats

Terrified neighbours feared their entire street could have been “blown to kingdom come” after a fire attack in Arbroath.

The police have said the y are investigating following the incident on Sidney Street, which took place in the early hours of Monday.

According to neighbours, a ground floor window at Sidney Street had been doused in petrol and then set on fire.

One man said: “You can clearly see the blackened window where the fire was started and it’s right beside a gas pipe running up the outside of the building close by.

“I was told petrol had been thrown at the window and then set on fire.

“If that had gone off we would all have been blown to kingdom come, the entire street could have been blown to smithereens.”

Neighbours living on Sidney Street and nearby Ernest Street said the drama kicked off in the early hours when police and fire brigade crews were called to reports of “ongoing and sustained” trouble in a block of flats.

Police quickly cordoned off the area while fire officers tackled what they described as a “small fire” that was reported to them just before 1am.

Graffiti had been daubed on the block.

It is understood plant pots were also thrown at the windows and debris was left littering the pavement outside.

A door leading to the flat was blackened with smoke.

It was not known if someone was inside during the incident itself. There was no answer at the door when reporters knocked on Monday.

One neighbour said she heard shouting coming from the flat before the police arrived.

She said: “There were

police ever ywhere and they we r e still there until around lunchtime yesterday (Monday).”

An upstairs neighbour said: “I looked outside and saw a fire that looked as if it was on the pavement.

“The fire brigade came and put it out.”

Police remained at the scene for much of Monday with officers making

door-to-door inquiries later in the afternoon.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Officers are carrying out inquiries after a fire and a vandalism were reported in the early hours of Monday in Sidney Street.

“Anyone who knows who is responsible should contact police on 101, quoting 0390 of October 5.”

INQUIRIES: Police remained at the scene on Sidney Street for much of Monday.