Police have launched a probe after a BMW was set alight by vandals on Bonfire Night, wrecking the vehicle and damaging other cars parked nearby.
Emergency services were called to attend in the car park behind the Dolphin bar on Fintry Road in Dundee shortly before 8.45pm on November 5 following reports of a vehicle on fire. One fire engine was sent to the scene to extinguish the fire and left just under an hour later.
The interior of the motor has been completely gutted by the blaze, with only metal fixtures such as the base of the seats and the steering column left behind after the fire was put out. Remnants such as brake light lenses and headrests were scattered about the area, and petrol had leaked behind the torched motor.
Detectives are treating the incident as wilful and have launched an appeal for information. A police spokesperson said other vehicles had been damaged as a result of the blaze, which is understood to have occurred while a function was happening at the nearby pub.
However, no other vehicles were parked beside when the Record inspected the scene today. A Ford light goods vehicle parked nearby had damage to its windows and its headlights removed, but it is unclear if it was affected by last night's vandalism.
One local told our reporter: "We saw the fire brigade and the police arriving – it would've been about 9pm or so, maybe a bit earlier. You could smell the burning; my grandson said it was almost foggy with the smoke.
"There wasn't any kids hanging about or anything but there was something on upstairs at the pub, just the usual sort of noise."
Another said the vehicle may have been parked there for several months prior to being destroyed. He added: "I don't know if it had no road tax, no MOT, whatever." The Record was unable to verify the registration of the car.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We received a call to attend a vehicle on fire on Fintry Road, Dundee at 8.43pm on Saturday November 5. One appliance was in attendance and we left the scene at 9.28pm."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We are currently investigating an incident of wilful fireraising in Fintry Road, Dundee, which happened between 8:30pm – 9pm on Saturday 5th November. A car which was parked in the area behind the Dolphin Bar and Fintry Post Office was deliberately set on fire, destroying the car and damaging others parked nearby.
"A large number of people were in the vicinity around that time, and we would like to hear from anyone who saw persons running away from the location, or may have dashcam or mobile footage that could assist our investigation. If you have any information that could assist us, please call 101 or speak to any police officer.
"Also, information can be given anonymously through CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111. Our reference is incident 3955 of 5th November."
The incident comes just days after gangs of youths allegedly hurled bricks and fireworks at cars, locals and riot police in the Kirkton housing scheme elsewhere in the city. Several people have been charged in connection with the incidents, which saw police patrols stepped up across Dundee on Bonfire Night as a result.
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