Police and fire crews are investigating after a number of vehicles were deliberately set on fire in South Gloucestershire.
Up to 20 vehicles are believed to have been set alight in the Bristol area on Sunday, April 3. A Rolls Royce facility in Filton was also targeted, with multiple vehicles on fire, damaging around 20 of them in total as the fire spread.
Avon and Somerset Police received the first call at around 1.30am reporting a vehicle fire in New Road, Stoke Gifford. By 5.30am there were further reports, with up to 20 vehicles set alight in locations across Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Gifford.
Read more: Mum of woman jailed for Bristol riot describes her sentence as 'inhumane'
At about 3.45am more vehicles were on fire in a car park at Rolls Royce, which first opened in 2020. One eyewitness said he was awoken to loud bangs and that the fire was controlled at around 5am on Sunday morning.
Residents may have heard some of the vehicles' fuel tanks exploding. Police have said there have been no reports of injuries or damage to buildings.
In a statement, the force said: "Officers are working closely with the fire and rescue service to respond to these incidents. Officers will be carrying out house-to-house enquiries and making a thorough investigation alongside Avon Fire and Rescue Service."
Also see: Bristol man says graffiti 'tagging' is like someone urinating in public
The extent of the damage is making it difficult to identify vehicles in order to notify the owners at this early stage of the investigation, it said. Police would like to hear from anyone who finds their own vehicle has been damaged, as well as anyone with information or dashcam, CCTV or other footage which could assist their enquiries.
Please call 101 and give the log number 124 of Sunday 3 April. Alternatively, give information 100 per cent anonymously by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Follow the latest updates on this story and others like it here
