Police treating fires in South Toowoomba as ‘suspicious’ after structures destroyed

Half a dozen vehicles, a car dealership, and an educational facility have been damaged overnight under circumstances Toowoomba police describe as ‘suspicious’. DETAILS HERE:

POLICE are appealing for information from the public to identify the arsonists who attacked two Toowoomba CBD businesses early Monday.

Toowoomba CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Paul McCusker said there were two groups of three people of interest to police after they were observed in South Toowoomba about 4.15am on Monday.

Toowoomba police are investigating suspicious fires that damaged buildings and cars in James St and Fitzgibbon St.

They were seen near suspicious fires at the Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office on James St and the Shore Prestige Motor Dealer on Fitzgibbon St.

One trio is already assisting police with their inquiries.

“We believe both fires are linked,” Sgt McCusker said.

“We would ask anyone who may have been in the area at the time, between 3.30-4.30am who may have seen a group of people in the area to come forward to police.”

There was a suspicious fires in Toowoomba CBD early Monday morning, at the Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office on James Street.

The Fitzgibbon St fire destroyed six vehicles that were under repair at the time while the second fire caused extensive damage to an unused building at the former Toowoomba South State School, which is now owned by the Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office.

There were two other fires in Toowoomba overnight, in the CBD and at Wilsonton, but Sgt McCusker said they were not linked to the arson investigation.

“Irrespective of if it was a planned attack, or it was someone who thought it might be fun to set something alight, an old building has been somewhat destroyed,” he said.

Police are gathering dashcam and CCTV footage that would identify the culprits and track their movements.

They have appealed for anyone with information about the fires to phone Policelink in 131 444 or Crimes Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Shore Presitge Motor Dealer was targeted by arsonists.