Police are appealing for the public’s assistance as part of their ongoing inquiries into a fire at a school in the south of the city.
At 3.50pm on Sunday 1st September the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service alerted police to a fire at Gilmerton Primary School on Moredun Dykes Road.
Officers attended and a local road closure was put in place whilst the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the blaze. Nobody was injured as a result.
Inquiries have established that the fire had been started deliberately at an area adjacent to the main school building. Damage has been caused to a bike shelter, but no significant damage caused to the school building.
Officers are currently appealing for witnesses and anyone who can help their inquiries is asked to come forward.
Detective Inspector Bruce Coutts from Gayfield CID said: “The value of the damage caused is estimated to be in excess of £6,000 and it is fortunate that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were able to control the fire and prevent it from spreading to the neighbouring school building.
“Deliberately starting fires is a highly dangerous and reckless act; it was down to the swift actions of our emergency service partners that the incident did not escalate and cause significant damage to property, or cause harm to anyone involved.
“Our CCTV inquiries have shown a group of six youths at the school building around the time of the fire. We’re working to identify and trace these individuals so that we can understand the full circumstances of this incident.
“I would appeal to anyone who witnessed any suspicious behaviour around the school on Sunday afternoon and has not yet spoken to officers, or anyone who can help identify those responsible, to get in contact with us as soon as possible.”
Those with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 and quote incident number 2749 of 1st September. An anonymous report can be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
