The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Body found after fire in B&M shop
Man was seen entering premises just before blaze broke out
A body has been found in the ruins of a Perth superstore eight days after a major blaze.
It has yet to be formally identified but police are supporting a family believed to be that of the deceased.
A man seen on CCTV entering the building shortly before the fire tore through B&M, in St Catherine’s Retail Park, on August 24 has not been seen since.
Police revealed last week they believed someone had been in the shop and there was no evidence they had left.
Work was conducted at the weekend to make the premises safe enough to be searched.
Chief Inspector Ian Scott confirmed the discovery and said: “We believe that we know the identity of the individual and specialist officers are providing support to their family.”
A body has been found in the ruins of a fire-ravaged Perth superstore.
Police confirmed the grim discovery last night as construction crews worked to secure the B&M building so it could be searched.
The body has yet to be formally identified, however police are supporting a family believed to be that of the deceased.
A man, who has been missing since a major blaze ripped through the store in St Catherine’s Retail Park in the early hours of August 24, had been spotted on CCTV entering the premises shortly before.
Chief Inspector Ian Scott, Perth and Kinross local area commander, said: “Our inquiries gave us reason to believe that there may be a person within the building.
“Our investigation into the fire has therefore been conducted with this possibility in mind.
“Formal identification of the body found has yet to take place, however we believe that we know the identity of the individual and specialist officers are providing support to their family at this time.
“The damage to the building is extensive and we are working closely with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and other partners to establish the full circumstances.”
Mr Scott said a police presence would be maintained at the scene until the investigation was complete, which could be some time.
Disruption in the immediate area would be unavoidable as work went on at the site, he said, with no pedestrian access between Glasgow Road and Morrisons until the area was made safe.
He added: “We would like to thank local residents for their patience and understanding.”
Emergency crews were scrambled to the shop just after 2am last Saturday.
About 50 firefighters spent hours tackling the inferno and dozens of animals were rescued from the Pets At Home store next door.
The fire is being treated as suspicious. Construction crews have battled to safeguard the ruins of the store.
At the weekend, screens were erected as diggers set to work dismantling potentially dangerous pieces of twisted metal.
Drones have been used by investigators to check the site from above.
The Courier understands police are trying to determine if the fire was started at multiple locations inside the building.