Three arrested for Northampton arson attacks
Police have arrested three people in connection with suspected arson attacks carried out on two homes in Northampton.
The incidents happened in the space of a few hours and were in the same area.
A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police said: “Officers have today arrested three men in connection with this week’s arson attacks in Drywell Court, east Northampton. The men, two local and one from out of the county, are currently being held in custody for questioning.”
The second fire, at the single storey home of an elderly disabled woman caused significant damage to the property which has been left structurally unsafe. Thankfully the woman managed to escape with only minor injuries.
A neighbour who witnessed the incident said: “I was woken up by the smoke, it was frightening and I quickly got my children up and out of the house. I turned and saw flames coming out of next door’s home, I couldn’t believe it. It is a terrible thing to do but the main thing is that everyone is okay.”
A woman living in the house that was targeted first said: “I still can’t really understand what’s happened, we saw the explosion and just got out. My daughter was shouting, it could have been her bedroom. I can’t believe they returned and did another house. Another neighbour had a brick through their window. Who could do this? Thank God everyone is okay.”
Detective Inspector Ally White from Northampton CID said: “These are very serious incidents and we asking anyone with information about these incidents, who we have not yet spoken with, to come forward. Thankfully no-one was hurt as a result but one of the properties sustained severe structural damage. We are confident that these incidents can be isolated and that there is no wider risk to the community. But we will be putting on extra community patrols, day and night, to reassure residents in the area. We would ask people living in the vicinity of these incidents to report any suspicious activity to us.”
The investigation into how the fire started is being carried out.