Police are hunting a group of reckless youths who rampaged through a Fife village just hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnston announced lockdown measures.
Residents in Kennoway reported hearing “explosions” in the early hours of Tuesday morning after a pick-up truck, which had been stolen from a local man’s driveway, was deliberately set alight in an area of woodland known as Kennoway Den.
Emergency services rushed to the blaze to bring it under control but significant damage was done to the wooded area, which is a popular walking spot.
The Courier understands the white Toyota Hilux involved was broken into by at least three people some time before 5am, before being driven to an area known as the Drying Green and set on fire.
It was one of several vehicles and properties targeted by those responsible.
No-one was injured as a result of the fire but news of the burnt out vehicle’s discovery has been widely condemned in the community.
Local SNP councillor and Fife Council co-leader David Alexander described the events as a “deliberately malicious series of actions” and urged residents to reflect on who should have been indoors and was not.
“This is totally out of order, is dangerous, and unnecessarily puts the lives of people at risk, not to mention the damage done to a well-loved part of Kennoway.
“The current situation we are facing is highly dangerous. People should be behind closed doors.
“Any information on this requires to be passed on to the police immediately and those responsible really need to take a look at their actions and seriously reflect.”
One local resident said he was woken by the noise of a car horn and then the sound of “explosions” at around 5.10am, probably diesel in the Hilux igniting.
A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed: “We received report of a vehicle on fire at Kennoway Den, Kennoway, around 6.10am.
“Emergency services were at the scene and no-one was injured as a result of the fire.”
Officers are believed to be reviewing CCTV footage obtained from local properties which showed at least three youths trying to open vehicles in the area prior to the incident.
Anyone who has information which may assist the police investigation can call 101.
Kennoway Den used to play a major part in local people’s social and working lives, with the main green, the Drying Green, said to be where local weavers left out materials to dry prior to weaving.
