Free State police concerned over houses being petrol-bombed

Free State police on Tuesday raised concerns over the rise in the cases of damage to property where petrol bombs were used after two separate incidents in the early hours of the morning, bringing the total number to five in the last week.


“These attacks have now spread to Masilo, Theunissen where two houses were thrown with petrol bombs on Tuesday. In the first incident, the attack did not cause any damage or harm as the petrol bomb hit the outside wall at about 1pm the fire was extinguished,” said Major General Apaphia Modise.

“The fire was extinguished and no further damage or injury to family members was recorded in the second house the petrol bomb broke the window pane and burnt one curtain.”

Modise said on Thursday a resident of Calabria in Meloding came to her house and found two bedroom windows broken, wall and curtains damaged by fire.

“It was suspected that a petrol bomb was used as broken bottles and a cloth dampened with liquid substance was found in the house and the suspects are unknown and there are no witnesses up to so far,” said Modise.

She said another incident almost similar to that involved a motor vehicle that caught fire while the owner was sleeping on Saturday at about 1am. However, the neighbours assisted to extinguish the fire to minimise the damage to the vehicle.

Modise made an appeal to the criminal elements to desist from these barbaric acts.

“We are giving necessary attention to these acts and those who are behind it will be arrested and face the wrath of the law,” she said.

“We further request community members who have information that may assist in solving these crimes to come forward. There is a reward in place for the valuable information that may assist in successful arrest and conviction of the suspects.”

– African News Agency (ANA)

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