http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edi ... 522248.stm
Pair sought over police lab fire
A police forensic science laboratory in Edinburgh has been set alight.
Loud bangs were heard coming from the Scottish Police Services Authority's premises at Howdenhall Road in the south of the city just after midnight.
A masked man who was seen running from the scene escaped in a car, driven by another man, at St Katherine's Brae.
The fire brigade put out two fires in offices on the ground floor but there has been extensive smoke damage throughout the building.
The man who was seen running from the scene is about 5ft 6in, of thin build, and was wearing a dark top, possibly hooded, and a dark mask.
Extensive smoke
About a fifth of all Scotland's forensic science work is carried out in the laboratory and managers are now assessing the impact on current casework from fire, smoke and water damage.
Tom Nelson, Scottish Police Services Authority's director of forensic services, said: "This has been a serious incident, but one that I am pleased to say has not resulted in any injuries to my staff.
"An initial assessment suggests that although there has been extensive smoke damage throughout the building, only two rooms have suffered from fire. Neither of these rooms are key scientific laboratory facilities."
A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: "We are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Howdenhall Road or St Katherine's Brae at the time of the incident, who noticed any suspicious activity, to get in touch with us immediately.
"Similarly, we want to hear from anyone who saw a vehicle being driven at speed in the area in the early hours of this morning.
"Anyone else who has any other information that can assist our inquiries should also get in touch."
Breaking News "SPSA Petrol Bombed"
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Big Wullie
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Big Wullie
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Re: Breaking News "SPSA Set Alight" Fire Bombed
SPSA was fire bombed according to this latest STV News article:
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/east-centra ... edinburgh/
Police hunt forensic lab firebombers in Edinburgh
Crime lab was deliberately set alight in the early hours of Thursday morning.
http://video.stv.tv/?bcpid=37654293001& ... 7298061001
A police forensics science lab in Edinburgh has been targeted by suspected firebombers.
Emergency crews were called to the Scottish Police Services Authority (SSPA) lab in Howdenhall shortly after midnight on Thursday after local residents heard loud bangs coming from the site.
Firefighters found two blazes had been deliberately set in offices on the building's ground floor.
Lothian and Borders Police said a masked man was then seen running from the scene and jumping into a car, driven by another man.
Lab staff are now trying to assess the impact the blaze has had on current casework. There is known to be extensive smoke damage to the building but staff believe key facilities have escaped major damage.
SPSA director of forensic services Tom Nelson said: "This has been a serious incident but one that I am pleased to say has not resulted in any injuries to my staff.
"An initial assessment suggests that although there has been extensive smoke damage throughout the building, only two rooms have suffered from fire. Neither of these rooms are key scientific laboratory facilities.
"Our task now is twofold. First, supporting Lothian and Borders Police in the investigation of this crime and secondly, of course, assessing the interim impact on our service and working quickly to get the laboratory back up to normal operations.
"I hope that this is able to be achieved in a matter of weeks."
A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "We are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Howdenhall Road or St Katherine's Brae at the time of the incident, who noticed any suspicious activity, to get in touch with us immediately.
"Similarly, we want to hear from anyone who saw a vehicle being driven at speed in the area in the early hours of this morning.
"Anyone else who has any other information that can assist our inquiries should also get in touch."
The Howdenhall facility is one of four laboratories providing forensic support to Scotland's police and prosecutors. Up to 60 staff work at the Edinburgh base and it provides around 20% of the total forensic work across Scotland.
A Crown Office spokeswoman said: "COPFS is working with colleagues in the SPSA and Lothian and Borders Police to minimise disruption."
Last updated: 18 February 2010, 20:55
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/east-centra ... edinburgh/
Police hunt forensic lab firebombers in Edinburgh
Crime lab was deliberately set alight in the early hours of Thursday morning.
http://video.stv.tv/?bcpid=37654293001& ... 7298061001
A police forensics science lab in Edinburgh has been targeted by suspected firebombers.
Emergency crews were called to the Scottish Police Services Authority (SSPA) lab in Howdenhall shortly after midnight on Thursday after local residents heard loud bangs coming from the site.
Firefighters found two blazes had been deliberately set in offices on the building's ground floor.
Lothian and Borders Police said a masked man was then seen running from the scene and jumping into a car, driven by another man.
Lab staff are now trying to assess the impact the blaze has had on current casework. There is known to be extensive smoke damage to the building but staff believe key facilities have escaped major damage.
SPSA director of forensic services Tom Nelson said: "This has been a serious incident but one that I am pleased to say has not resulted in any injuries to my staff.
"An initial assessment suggests that although there has been extensive smoke damage throughout the building, only two rooms have suffered from fire. Neither of these rooms are key scientific laboratory facilities.
"Our task now is twofold. First, supporting Lothian and Borders Police in the investigation of this crime and secondly, of course, assessing the interim impact on our service and working quickly to get the laboratory back up to normal operations.
"I hope that this is able to be achieved in a matter of weeks."
A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "We are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Howdenhall Road or St Katherine's Brae at the time of the incident, who noticed any suspicious activity, to get in touch with us immediately.
"Similarly, we want to hear from anyone who saw a vehicle being driven at speed in the area in the early hours of this morning.
"Anyone else who has any other information that can assist our inquiries should also get in touch."
The Howdenhall facility is one of four laboratories providing forensic support to Scotland's police and prosecutors. Up to 60 staff work at the Edinburgh base and it provides around 20% of the total forensic work across Scotland.
A Crown Office spokeswoman said: "COPFS is working with colleagues in the SPSA and Lothian and Borders Police to minimise disruption."
Last updated: 18 February 2010, 20:55
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Big Wullie
- Posts: 686
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- Location: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
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Re SPSA Petrol Bombed
The following article shows that the SPSA was Petrol Bombed.
CCTV cameras and a nearby police station made no difference to this petrol bomber.
________________________________________________________________________________
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/OAP-w ... 6088048.jp
OAP watches in shock as bomber attacks police lab.
DAMAGE: A policeman inspects a broken window at the lab
By ALAN McEWEN
A PENSIONER watched in horror as a hooded arsonist threw a petrol bomb through the windows of the city's police forensic labs.
The retired civil servant saw the attack unfold after hearing a window being smashed at the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) laboratory on Howdenhall Road.
Detectives hunting the firebomber believe he may be part of a criminal gang who wanted to destroy forensic evidence.
The suspect is understood to have been caught on CCTV cameras at the site, but may not be identifiable from the images.
The pensioner, who came upon the attack in the early hours of yesterday morning after hearing one of the lab windows being smashed, said: "I saw flames on the ground outside the window and there was an orange glow inside. Then I saw this guy in a hooded top go to a second window and smash it. Then a few seconds later, I saw him throw something inside and the flames came whooshing out.
"I saw the man running away. He must have run along the burn down to St Katherine's Brae."
The fire bomber – described as 5ft 6in, of thin build, and wearing a dark top – later sped away in a small dark car driven by another man.
Officers were yesterday combing the burn and surrounding area for potential evidence.
Following an assessment of the laboratories, the SPSA said that no forensic evidence had been lost, although the building suffered smoke damage.
The lab is one of the busiest in Scotland, employing 60 staff and supplying 20 per cent of the total forensic work carried out by all eight Scottish forces.
It deals with around 150 forensic cases each week, with specialists able to analyse DNA and blood traces, and conduct ballistic tests on firearms.
Chief Inspector John Rae said: "It is a very unusual crime and a very bold one.
"We are certainly not looking at it as an act of vandalism – it's not your average drunk coming out of the pub and putting a brick through the window."
Tom Nelson, SPSA director of forensic services in Scotland, added: "Two office rooms were fire damaged and the rest of the building suffered smoke damage.
If there are any cases on deadlines we will deal with them as a priority and if they can't be, we will outsource to other labs in Scotland."
Twenty four firefighters were involved in battling the blaze and dampening down the site for almost nine hours.
CCTV cameras and a nearby police station made no difference to this petrol bomber.
________________________________________________________________________________
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/OAP-w ... 6088048.jp
OAP watches in shock as bomber attacks police lab.
DAMAGE: A policeman inspects a broken window at the lab
By ALAN McEWEN
A PENSIONER watched in horror as a hooded arsonist threw a petrol bomb through the windows of the city's police forensic labs.
The retired civil servant saw the attack unfold after hearing a window being smashed at the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) laboratory on Howdenhall Road.
Detectives hunting the firebomber believe he may be part of a criminal gang who wanted to destroy forensic evidence.
The suspect is understood to have been caught on CCTV cameras at the site, but may not be identifiable from the images.
The pensioner, who came upon the attack in the early hours of yesterday morning after hearing one of the lab windows being smashed, said: "I saw flames on the ground outside the window and there was an orange glow inside. Then I saw this guy in a hooded top go to a second window and smash it. Then a few seconds later, I saw him throw something inside and the flames came whooshing out.
"I saw the man running away. He must have run along the burn down to St Katherine's Brae."
The fire bomber – described as 5ft 6in, of thin build, and wearing a dark top – later sped away in a small dark car driven by another man.
Officers were yesterday combing the burn and surrounding area for potential evidence.
Following an assessment of the laboratories, the SPSA said that no forensic evidence had been lost, although the building suffered smoke damage.
The lab is one of the busiest in Scotland, employing 60 staff and supplying 20 per cent of the total forensic work carried out by all eight Scottish forces.
It deals with around 150 forensic cases each week, with specialists able to analyse DNA and blood traces, and conduct ballistic tests on firearms.
Chief Inspector John Rae said: "It is a very unusual crime and a very bold one.
"We are certainly not looking at it as an act of vandalism – it's not your average drunk coming out of the pub and putting a brick through the window."
Tom Nelson, SPSA director of forensic services in Scotland, added: "Two office rooms were fire damaged and the rest of the building suffered smoke damage.
If there are any cases on deadlines we will deal with them as a priority and if they can't be, we will outsource to other labs in Scotland."
Twenty four firefighters were involved in battling the blaze and dampening down the site for almost nine hours.
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Big Wullie
- Posts: 686
- Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:59 am
- Location: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
- Contact:
Re: Breaking News "SPSA Petrol Bombed"
Police probe suspected gangland links to firebomb attack on their own forensic lab.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scott ... -22054042/
A CSI-STYLE police forensic lab was torched by a masked man in a firebomb attack early yesterday.
Detectives believe a criminal gang were trying to destroy evidence held at the Howdenhall laboratory in south Edinburgh.
One theory is that the attack is linked to a recent seizure of drugs, cash and a gun in a part of the capital plagued by cocaine dealers.
Chief Inspector John Rae said last night: "We are looking at various theories, one of which is that it was a targeted attack.
"Anyone who we think might have a motive to destroy evidence might be on our radar."
Emergency crews rushed to the lab shortly after midnight after neighbours heard loud bangs and a fire alarm went off.
A man in a mask was seen running into nearby St Katherine's Brae where he got into a waiting car and was driven off at speed.
The building was already well ablaze by the time firefighters arrived. Missiles had apparently been hurled in through broken rear windows.
Fire crews put out two blazes on the ground floor of the building, which handles a fifth of Scotland's police forensic work.
Evidence in most major criminal inquiries in the east of Scotland is processed at Howdenhall.
Last Friday, following a tip-off, police with sniffer dogs found a gun, drugs and a four-figure sum of cash in in a communal garden at Cumnor Crescent in Edinburgh's Inch.
It was widely reported that the cache was taken away for forensic examination.
Staff at Howdenhall spent yesterday assessing damage to files and evidence in cases yet to come to court.
Forensic services director Tom Nelson said: "Although there has been extensive smoke damage throughout the building, only two rooms have suffered from the fire.
"Neither of these rooms are key scientific laboratory facilities.
"The initial assessment is that no productions have been lost."
Employing 60 highly trained staff, Howdenhall is one of four laborator ies which provide forensic support to Scotland's police and prosecution services.
It deals with around 150 cases a week and provides toxicology analysis for the whole of Scotland.
Courts and prosecutors rely on the lab staff's expert evidence and opinion to help them bring criminals to justice.
The man suspected of carrying out yesterday's attack was around 5ft 6in, of thin build and wore dark clothing and a dark mask. He was driven away in a small dark car.
Police appealed for witnesses to the incident.
Chief Inspector Rae added: "This is the first attack on any of the forensics labs and it takes a pretty bold attempt.
"It's not your average drunk coming out of the the pub and puting a brick through the window."
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scott ... -22054042/
A CSI-STYLE police forensic lab was torched by a masked man in a firebomb attack early yesterday.
Detectives believe a criminal gang were trying to destroy evidence held at the Howdenhall laboratory in south Edinburgh.
One theory is that the attack is linked to a recent seizure of drugs, cash and a gun in a part of the capital plagued by cocaine dealers.
Chief Inspector John Rae said last night: "We are looking at various theories, one of which is that it was a targeted attack.
"Anyone who we think might have a motive to destroy evidence might be on our radar."
Emergency crews rushed to the lab shortly after midnight after neighbours heard loud bangs and a fire alarm went off.
A man in a mask was seen running into nearby St Katherine's Brae where he got into a waiting car and was driven off at speed.
The building was already well ablaze by the time firefighters arrived. Missiles had apparently been hurled in through broken rear windows.
Fire crews put out two blazes on the ground floor of the building, which handles a fifth of Scotland's police forensic work.
Evidence in most major criminal inquiries in the east of Scotland is processed at Howdenhall.
Last Friday, following a tip-off, police with sniffer dogs found a gun, drugs and a four-figure sum of cash in in a communal garden at Cumnor Crescent in Edinburgh's Inch.
It was widely reported that the cache was taken away for forensic examination.
Staff at Howdenhall spent yesterday assessing damage to files and evidence in cases yet to come to court.
Forensic services director Tom Nelson said: "Although there has been extensive smoke damage throughout the building, only two rooms have suffered from the fire.
"Neither of these rooms are key scientific laboratory facilities.
"The initial assessment is that no productions have been lost."
Employing 60 highly trained staff, Howdenhall is one of four laborator ies which provide forensic support to Scotland's police and prosecution services.
It deals with around 150 cases a week and provides toxicology analysis for the whole of Scotland.
Courts and prosecutors rely on the lab staff's expert evidence and opinion to help them bring criminals to justice.
The man suspected of carrying out yesterday's attack was around 5ft 6in, of thin build and wore dark clothing and a dark mask. He was driven away in a small dark car.
Police appealed for witnesses to the incident.
Chief Inspector Rae added: "This is the first attack on any of the forensics labs and it takes a pretty bold attempt.
"It's not your average drunk coming out of the the pub and puting a brick through the window."