Petrol bomb attack on Coatbridge house

Jan 27 2010 by Wendy Scott, Airdrie & Coatbridge

A COATBRIDGE householder watched in horror as his home came under a petrol bomb attack.

The 30-year-old man heard a noise outside his home in Copsewood Crescent, looked outside, and saw a ned hurling a bottle at his van parked in the driveway.

The petrol bomb hit the side of the van and went on fire.

He ran outside to put it out with water and then heard a bang and discovered the front door had also been petrol bombed.

The resident then poured water on the door to extinguish the fire and contacted police.

It’s the second petrol bomb attack on a house in Monklands in recent weeks.

A young couple had to flee for their lives when a mindless moron torched a downstairs property in Elswick Drive, Caldercruix.

Police say the two incidents are unrelated.

Monklands Police Chief Inspector John Fitzpatrick told the Advertiser that those responsible for the latest attack could have found themselves facing a murder charge.

He said: “It is of serious concern for us that a person would use this method to attack another.

“The consequences have been seen recently when two youths in Ayrshire pleaded guilty to the culpable homicide of a woman in her own house when they set fire to the door.

“This type of attack could have had the same outcome and the perpetrator could be facing a murder charge.”

The incident happened at 1.15 am last Saturday.

Police are hunting a male aged 20-25 years, 6ft, slim with dark hair, wearing a white T-shirt and trousers.

Anyone with information should contact Coatbridge CID at 01236 502059 or Crimestoppers on 08000 555111 where calls are treated in confidence and anonymity can be maintained.