Monday, 28 July 2003 - 4:39pm |
Auckland City

Footage could provide vital clues to arsons

1 min read

Operation Fire, the investigation into the series of arsons in Auckland City overnight on July 15, has released a series of pictures of a man who was in the vicinity of seven seats of fire on the night.

Video surveillance footage shows a man sitting on a public seat outside the Line 7 shop on lower Queen St at about 5.30am on July 16. Police attended the last fire at about 4.30am in Emily Place.

&#34We’d very much like to speak to the man in the footage or anyone who thinks they know who he is,&#34 Detective Senior Sergeant Jon Moss said.

&#34We don’t know what, if any, connection this man has to the events of the night, but we’d like to speak to him to determine his involvement or otherwise.

&#34It’s difficult to get a clear picture of him, but he was wearing light-coloured trousers, a dark, long sleeved top with a hood, mainly white sport shoes and he had a dark bag with him.&#34

Anyone with information can call Operation Fire on 0800 80FIRE -- 0800 80 3473.

Mr Moss said the investigation team was working hard to track down the arsonist or arsonists who caused millions of dollars of damage to the Guardian Trust building and other central city properties in the early hours of July 16.

&#34It’s vital that we determine who the man in the surveillance footage is so that we can advance the inquiry one way or another.&#34