Four escape after 'deliberate' fire causes explosion at Sydney Indian restaurant
Torpedo
Four escape after 'deliberate' fire causes explosion at Sydney restaurant
PAUL TATNELL
July 6, 2010 - 3:30PM
Four people are lucky to be alive after an Indian restaurant in Sydney
exploded and was gutted in a suspected arson attack overnight.
Police are investigating possible links to a bomb threat at the Copper
Tiffin restaurant on Cleveland Street, Surry Hills, a month ago.
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Two people were seen running from the restaurant just after 11.30pm as fire
engulfed the building, witnessess told police.
An explosion a short time later showered Cleveland Street with glass and
debris. One witness said the shop front was missing.
Four occupants of a unit above the restaurant escaped. One person was taken
to St Vincent's Hospital with smoke inhalation, while another was treated by
paramedics.
The owner of the business next door, Sushi-Suma, said he was not sure when
he would be allowed to reopen as his premises were sealed by police tape.
Shopfronts next to the damaged building have had their signage partially
melted and paint blackened.
A nearby restaurant owner, who did not want to be named, said he heard a
"loud explosion, like a bomb" just after 11.30pm.
The man said the explosion caused glass and signs to cover the road. He said
the building was quick to catch fire.
"Then I see people climbing out of a window, about four. [It was] very
lucky," he said.
The witness said police had been at the same site "about two weeks ago" and
cleared out several restaurants along the Cleveland Street strip, possibly
because of a bomb threat.
A NSW Fire Brigades spokesman said more than 20 firefighters fought the
blaze and had it under control after about 30 minutes.
He said the blaze was suspicious but could not speculate yet on what caused
the explosion.
Cleveland Street has been reopened to traffic.
Police are seeking witnesses who may have seen the two men running from the
blaze.
Detectives hoped to speak to the four people who escaped the fire today.
netvegetable
> http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/four-escape-after-deliberate-fire-causes-
explosion-at-sydney-restaurant-20100706-zxtk.html?autostart=1
>
> Four escape after 'deliberate' fire causes explosion at Sydney
> restaurant
>
> PAUL TATNELL
> July 6, 2010 - 3:30PM
>
> Four people are lucky to be alive after an Indian restaurant in Sydney
> exploded and was gutted in a suspected arson attack overnight.
Who would attack an Indian restaurant? Indian food is delicious!