Unemployed man in a Gant sweatshirt is arrested over arson attack on a Sydney council building – which cost $30M in damages and 'was retaliation for a $200 fine'
- An unemployed man, 29, has been arrested ten years after a council building fire
- The Liverpool Council Chambers were completely destroyed by a blaze in 2010
- There was more than $27 million of damage caused by the extensive inferno
- Police suspected it was caused by an arson attack in response to a council fine
- They also believe multiple people were involved and are looking for another man
An unemployed man has been arrested almost ten years after an arson attack burnt down a council building, causing more than $27 million in damage.
The 29-year-old was arrested on George Street in Liverpool in Sydney's west at 4pm on Wednesday, taken to a police station and charged over the decade-old fire.
The Liverpool Council Chambers on Hoxton Park road were completely destroyed by a blaze that began just after midnight on August 15, 2010.
Police suspected the arson attack was in retaliation to a $200 council fine, it was revealed in 2017.
The Liverpool Council Chambers (pictured) on Hoxton Park road were completely destroyed by a blaze that began just after midnight on August 15, 2010
An unemployed man (pictured, left), 29, was arrested in Liverpool in Sydney's west at 4pm on Wednesday, taken to a police station and charged over a decade-old fire
Emergency services found the Liverpool Council chambers completely engulfed in flames when they arrived just after 12:35am on August 15, 2010.
More than 80 fire fighters across 20 units from Fire and Rescue NSW battled for hours to bring the blaze under control.
Share this article
No one was injured by the fire but it caused more than $27 million in damage.
The fire was deemed suspicious after investigators discovered the building's alarm was activated just after midnight, suggesting someone had broken in.
Police will allege the man was involved in lighting the fire after breaking into the Liverpool Council Chambers (pictured, the suspect during his arrest)
After almost ten years with no arrests, police finally arrested their first suspect on Wednesday.
He was pictured wearing a red Gant sweatshirt and black Adidas trackpants when detectives intercepted and handcuffed him.
Police charged him with destroy property in company use fire (greater than $5,000) and aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence.
Officers will allege in court that the man was involved in lighting the fire after breaking into the Liverpool Council Chambers while in the company of others.
He was refused bail and is due to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Thursday.
The man (picured) was seen wearing a red Gant sweatshirt and black Adidas trackpants when detectives intercepted and handcuffed him
Arson Unit Commander Detective Chief Inspector Richard Puffett said the arrest was a 'culmination' of ten years of investigation across 'numerous lines of inquiry'.
'For ten years, the Arson Unit have diligently reviewed new information about a possible motive for the fire and new enhanced examination techniques ultimately led to a breakthrough in the investigation,' he said.
'Not only did this fire cause extensive damage and disrupted Local Government – it put the lives of neighbouring residents and emergency service workers in danger.'
Police also released a COMFIT image of a man seen in the area at the time of the fire.
He is described as being of Mediterranean appearance, aged in his early 20s and wearing a dark-coloured hooded-jumper.
Police also released a COMFIT image (pictured) of a man seen in the area at the time of the fire
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Puffett said: 'Anyone who may recognise the man depicted in the COMFIT image, or who has information about this case, is urged to come forward.
'Even though it has been ten years since the fire, we'd like to hear from anyone whose memory may be refreshed by this image – no matter how insignificant the information may seem, it could be valuable to the investigation.'
The man's arrest is the first major breakthrough in the council fire investigation in almost a decade.
NSW Police announced they 'resurrected' the investigation following new information about a possible motive in 2017.
'Detectives have been told the fire may have been lit following a dispute over a council-issued fine,' Detective Superintendent Murray Chapman said at the time, according to Sydney Morning Herald.
The suspect (pictured) was refused bail and is due to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Thursday
