Detectives from West Yorkshire Police are appealing for information following a large fire at a builders merchant in Leeds.
As we have previously reported, at 2.35am on Sunday (15 July 2017) police were alerted to the fire at Jewson, in Lake Terrace, Hunslet.
A number of residents were temporarily evacuated from their homes nearby while firefighters tackled the blaze.
Fire investigators have confirmed the fire had been started deliberately with a number of separate seats of fire and the incident is being treated as arson. Damage was also caused to the neighbouring Middleton Railway’s premises.
Detective Inspector James Entwistle, of Leeds District CID, said:
“We are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident and would like to hear from anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area in the time leading up to it.
“This has been a very significant fire that has caused an enormous amount of damage at the scene and we are treating it very seriously.
“Checks on CCTV show a male, possibly with others, lighting a small self-contained fire next to the nearby railway line that runs along the perimeter fence prior to the incident. We are keen to identify that person either as a potential suspect or a witness if they can come forward and explain why they were there and what they were doing.
“We have also had reports of a number of youths in the area around the time of the fire and we are keen to hear from anyone who has seen them or who has any information that could assist in identifying who was involved in starting this fire.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Leeds District CID via 101 quoting crime reference 13180347640 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
