Man, 61, arrested following suspected arson incident in Basingstoke

A man has been arrested following reports of a suspected arson incident in Basingstoke yesterday.

At approximately 5.30am on Thursday 20 November, officers were on patrol when they noticed a car was on fire on Cordale Road.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service were already on scene and quickly extinguished the fire.

It was reported that a man and woman were sleeping inside the vehicle at the time. Thankfully, no one was injured.

Officers launched an investigation and made an arrest last night (20 November). An officer was assaulted during the arrest.

A 61-year-old man from Basingstoke has been arrested on suspicion of:

Arson with intent to endanger life

Assault by beating of an emergency worker

He remains in custody while our enquiries continue to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

As part of our enquiries, officers would still like to hear from witnesses. Were you in the area at the time?

Did you witness the incident or any suspicious behaviour? Do you have any CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage that could help our enquiries?

Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact 101 or submit information our website, quoting the reference number 44250524120: How to tell us about an existing case or report | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary

You can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting their website: Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers