Dorset town like ‘war zone’ after a dozen cars set ablaze
RESIDENTS have described a scene “like a war zone” as police investigate reports of a dozen car fires in the early hours of yesterday morning in Dorset.
Emergency services were called out to the scene of multiple fires in Broadstone, Wimborne and Merley between 1am and 3am.
Dorset Police said the fires affected 12 vehicles and one property.
Grant Stewart, 33, a builder from Ferndown, described the scene as a “war zone”, with people running around in a panic and cars “banging”.
“I was awoken by a bang and thought it was a car crash, looked out of the window to see an orange glow and people running around,” said Mr Stewart.
“One person came running to the scene to wake up one of the owners of the car and their car was on fire.”
Chloe Torring, 25, a hairdresser from Wimborne, said she was in “complete shock and disbelief ” after her car was destroyed in one of the fires.
She said: “I was woken up by my neighbour ringing my doorbell to tell me my car is on fire.”
Ms Torring added that she was “gutted” as she had owned the car for only five months. “It’s heart-wrenching to think someone would do such a horrible thing, for no good reason,” she said. “My car is destroyed. The engine is on the floor, I have no front half of my car – there’s just charcoal inside.”
Detective Sergeant Simon Austin said: “These incidents have affected a large number of victims in the wider Wimborne area.
“Officers are making every effort to identify those responsible.”
Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone who has seen suspicious activity to come forward.
They are also calling for anyone in the affected areas with a home CCTV camera installed or a dashcam to check their footage.