School bus fire in Lincoln being treated as arson
Police were called to St Hugh’s Catholic Primary Academy early this morning
Lincolnshire Police are treating a fire which destroyed two school buses in Lincoln as arson.
They were targeted at St Hugh’s Catholic Primary Academy in the early hours of this morning.
An inspection has revealed that the engines were stripped out.
The school has been closed today and will remain shut tomorrow as an investigation takes place.
Lincolnshire Police statement
We are investigating a theft and arson at a school in Woodfield Avenue, Lincoln after two mini buses were targeted in the early hours of this morning (23 May).
Our Force Control Room received a call at 2.45am reporting that mini buses in the car park in front of St Hugh’s Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy were on fire.
Officers were dispatched and crews from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue were deployed to tackle the blaze. The buses have been completely burnt out and left as empty shells, and the windows to one classroom at the front of the building have been cracked and guttering damaged.
Further inspection of the buses has shown that they have had their engines stripped.
We are treating this as an arson and theft, and fire investigators are on scene today and will be using the fire investigation dog as part of their enquiries.
Officers will remain on scene throughout the day carrying out further enquiries.
As a result of the damage and clean-up needed, the school has taken the decision to close both today and tomorrow (23 and 24 May).
We are now turning to our community to help our investigation. We are appealing for anyone who saw people approaching the grounds, capture the incident itself on camera, or saw vehicles driving in the area between 2.30am and 2.45am to come forward.
If you can help, please contact DS Revinder Singh on revinder.gerwal@lincs.police.uk quoting incident 16 of 23 May.