11-year-old girl and 12-year-old boy arrested in connection with Coviran fire

An 11-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of arson.

The arrests are in connection with Sunday's fire in the former Coviran supermarket on Devil’s Tower Road.

It brings the total of arrests in connection with this incident up to seven. Arrested on suspicion of arson, which is the destruction or damaging of someone else’s property with fire, intentionally or by being reckless.

Nobody has been charged, they have been interviewed and bailed while police investigations continue.

The RGP received a report of a fire at around 7.25pm on Sunday night. 35 firefighters and officers were needed to bring the blaze under control.

Anyone with any relevant information is asked to contact the RGP on 200 72500 or online at www.police.gi/report/seen-heard

Jonathan Scott spoke to Shelina Assomull from the site of the fire.

Who was responsible for ensuring the site of the fire was secure?

Was the site still owned or leased by the businessmen and women who operated the Coviran supermarket? No, despite the signage still being up, they told GBC they sold it 2 years ago.

So, who was responsible for securing the abandoned building and making sure access was child proof?

We asked the construction company Casais, who also have some branding up on the building. Casais gave us a 'no comment', saying there’s an ongoing criminal investigation.

We asked the developers who have planning permission for a mixed use development - commercial on the ground floor, residential above.

The developers told GBC they had erected a tall hoarding all the way round which made the site secure and safe. They couldn't comment further on how access was gained, but said they would make the site secure again when it’s no longer a crime scene and is handed back to them by the police.