Seven scooters were burnt in a suspected arson attack in an alley in Iao Hon district in the early hours of yesterday, the Fire Services Bureau (CB) said yesterday.
The Judiciary Police (PJ) said in a statement they suspect that someone set the scooters parked in an alley behind Iau Tim Building on fire.
Three of the seven scooters were completely gutted by the blaze while the other four were partially damaged, according to the PJ statement.
The Fire Services Bureau received a report at 3:57 a.m. yesterday that a number of scooters parked in the alley were on fire. Firefighters rushed to the scene and extinguished the fire in two minutes, senior fireman Kuok Pan told reporters at the scene after the fire-fighting operation.
Since the firefighters were unable to identify the cause of the fire they transferred the case to the Judiciary Police for further investigation, Kuok said.
No one was injured during the incident, Kuok said, adding that about 20 residents living on the low-level floors of the residential building left their flats after the fire had broken out. They returned to their homes soon after the blaze had been put out.
According to the PJ statement, the fire also damaged the rear of a van parked next to the scooters, the outdoor unit of an air conditioner, and the metal gate of a shop in the alley.
A flat on the second floor of the building was also affected by the blaze, the PJ statement said.
Two mattresses in the flat were burnt, Kuok said.
No injuries were reported
Firefighters stand near a row of scooters burnt in a suspected arson attack in an alley behind Iau Tim Building in Iao Hon district in the early hours of yesterday. Photo: Iong Tat Choi
