OAP watches in shock as bomber attacks police lab

A PENSIONER watched in horror as a hooded arsonist threw a petrol bomb through the windows of the city's police forensic labs.

The retired civil servant saw the attack unfold after hearing a window being smashed at the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) laboratory on Howdenhall Road.

Detectives hunting the firebomber believe he may be part of a criminal gang who wanted to destroy forensic evidence.

The suspect is understood to have been caught on CCTV cameras at the site, but may not be identifiable from the images.

The pensioner, who came upon the attack in the early hours of yesterday morning after hearing one of the lab windows being smashed, said: "I saw flames on the ground outside the window and there was an orange glow inside. Then I saw this guy in a hooded top go to a second window and smash it. Then a few seconds later, I saw him throw something inside and the flames came whooshing out.

"I saw the man running away. He must have run along the burn down to St Katherine's Brae."

The fire bomber – described as 5ft 6in, of thin build, and wearing a dark top – later sped away in a small dark car driven by another man.

Officers were yesterday combing the burn and surrounding area for potential evidence.

Following an assessment of the laboratories, the SPSA said that no forensic evidence had been lost, although the building suffered smoke damage.

The lab is one of the busiest in Scotland, employing 60 staff and supplying 20 per cent of the total forensic work carried out by all eight Scottish forces.

It deals with around 150 forensic cases each week, with specialists able to analyse DNA and blood traces, and conduct ballistic tests on firearms.

Chief Inspector John Rae said: "It is a very unusual crime and a very bold one.

"We are certainly not looking at it as an act of vandalism – it's not your average drunk coming out of the pub and putting a brick through the window."

Tom Nelson, SPSA director of forensic services in Scotland, added: "Two office rooms were fire damaged and the rest of the building suffered smoke damage.

If there are any cases on deadlines we will deal with them as a priority and if they can't be, we will outsource to other labs in Scotland."

Twenty four firefighters were involved in battling the blaze and dampening down the site for almost nine hours.