CCTV shows the moment a taxi is engulfed by fireball in arson attack
and live on Freeview channel 276
The Station Taxis car was torched in the early hours on Sunday, February 21, while it was parked in a Carlton Crescent in East Herrington.
CCTV footage shows a man approaching the vehicle and apparently tampering with its underside before it erupts into flames within a matter of seconds.
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Hide AdNorthumbria Police have confirmed the fire is being treated as deliberate. Enquiries are under way and anyone with any information is being asked to get in touch: “At about 4.50am on Sunday we received a report of a car on fir on Carlton Crescent in East Herrington,” said a spokesperson.
"Emergency services attended the scene and firefighters were able to extinguish the fire.
"The fire is being treated as a malicious ignition and enquiries to identify those responsible are ongoing.”
Firefighters from Farringdon Community Fire Station were called to the scene and extinguished the blaze.
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Hide AdStation Taxis boss Trevor Hines said he did not know of any motive for the attack and hoped the incident was a one-off.
"I have not got a clue,” he said.
"As far as I am concerned, I hope the company is not being targeted for any reason.
"We are concerned, obviously, but I don’t think we will find out the reason for this unless anybody is caught.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police on 101 quoting log 205 21/02/21.”