Police forensics lab torched as pair seen fleeing from the scene

A POLICE forensics lab in the Capital was torched in the early hours of this morning.

The blaze broke out at the SPSA laboratory on Howden Hall Road shortly after midnight, with local residents reporting loud bangs coming from the building.

A masked man was seen running from the scene into St Katherine's Brae, where he entered a small dark coloured car being driven by another man and sped off.

The fire brigade extinguished two fires that had been set within offices on the ground floor of the building.

Senior forensic services staff have been on site since 2am, and a team of key personnel from the Edinburgh laboratory are now assessing the impact on current casework from fire, smoke and water damage.

The key laboratory facilities do not appear to have been extensively damaged, but there will be some interruption to service.

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

The man who was seen running from the scene is described as being around 5ft 6ins tall with a thin build, and wearing a dark top - possibly with a hood - and a dark mask.

SPSA Director of Forensic Services, Tom Nelson, said: "This has been a serious incident, but one that I am pleased to say has not resulted in any injuries to my staff.

"An initial assessment suggests that although there has been extensive smoke damage throughout the building, only two rooms have suffered from fire. Neither of these rooms are key scientific laboratory facilities.

"Our task now is twofold. First, supporting Lothian and Borders Police in the investigation of this crime and secondly, of course, assessing the interim impact on our service and working quickly to get the laboratory back up to normal operations. I hope that this is able to be achieved in a matter of weeks."

A police spokesman said: "We are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Howden Hall Road or St Katherine's Brae at the time of the incident, who noticed any suspicious activity, to get in touch with us immediately.

"Similarly, we want to hear from anyone who saw a vehicle being driven at speed in the area in the early hours of this morning."