Police have launched an investigation after a car was set alight outside a former Bothwell restaurant.
Officers were called to the scene at the former San Vincenzo Restaurant on Main Street just after midnight on Thursday, June 30, following reports that a vehicle was engulfed in flames.
The fire also caused minor damage to the closed down eatery, which endured a series of troubling incidents while trading. No one was injured during the blaze.
The probe comes following a long line of shocking attacks on the restaurant that eventually led to owner Vincent Marini closing the doors in October 2019, amid claims of a targeted campaign and a "sustained effort" to drive him out of business.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "Around 00.20 am on Thursday, June 30, a fire was reported in a car parked on Ferry Road at Main Street, Bothwell. The vehicle was extensively damaged and a nearby restaurant sustained minor damage.
"Anyone who has any information about any of the incidents are asked to contact police via 101 quoting reference number 0064 of Thursday, 30 June, 2022. Alternatively, details can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
Shortly before closing his doors in 2019, a red Vauxhall Corsa was deliberately driven through a large window of the building before being set on fire.
Horrified locals watched as flames 50ft high leapt from the property.
Thousands of pounds of damage was caused to the popular Italian eatery leading to the closure. The ram-raid was the third attack on the restaurant in as many months.
In another attack in September 2019, a vehicle was torched outside the property, while back in the June that year, a pick-up truck was captured on CCTV as it smashed through a window straight into the restaurant before speeding off.
It had also been targeted by vandals who spray-painted the outside and the roof set on fire. And in March of this year, police launched another probe after yet another deliberate fire at the property.
In March 2020, the building was listed for sale, with an initial price tag of £600,000 but that was later lowered to offers over £500,000.
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