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Police seek witness after Dunstable pub fire
CCTV footage of a man police wish to speak to in connection with an arson at the Norman King pub in Dunstable
BEDFORDSHIRE Police are appealing for a man seen close to a historic town centre pub which burnt down in the early hours of Wednesday August 10, to contact them.
At 12.15am officers were called to a small fire at the Norman King public house in Church Street, Dunstable, which was in the process of being refurbished. The building is a listed property with a thatched roof, and it appears that this has caused the fire to spread very quickly.
Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service tackled the blaze with fire fighters spending the majority of Wednesday morning dampening down the building. Considerable damage to the building has meant that Detectives have not been able to establish exactly how the blaze started, but it is being treated as a suspected arson attack.After reviewing CCTV footage, officers are particularly keen to speak with a man who was seen leaving the Nags Head pub in High Street North before heading towards the Norman King at 11.45pm on Tuesday August 9, just a few minutes before the fire broke out. The man was wearing a light coloured, waist-length jacket with a dark coloured top underneath.
Investigating Officer Vicki Gibson said: “It is vitally important that we speak to this individual as he may have some valuable information relating to this incident. I would urge anyone who may have seen him or knows his identity, to get in touch.
“This historic pub was due to open on Saturday September 3, but instead it has been demolished due to the large amount of damage caused by the blaze. We believe that this fire was started deliberately and we need to ensure that whoever did so is not able to commit a similar offence anywhere else.”
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has further information should contact Investigating Officer Vicki Gibson on 01582 473210, text to 07786 200011 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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