A MAN with a backpack deliberately set a number of fires inside a government office in the Sydney CBD today.
Police said staff were inside The Fair Work Ombudsmen offices in Elizabeth St about 9am when the fires broke out on the fifth floor.
Workers confronted a man who believed to have set the fire. An accelerant – most likely petrol – was sprayed at office doorways before being lit.
“The man was carrying a backpack, is of Middle-Eastern appearance and stocky build. He may have been armed with a knife,” said Detective Inspector John Maricic of Central police.
“He was involved in a verbal altercation with some people before he left the building.”
Police will review CCTV footage to try and discover how the man entered and exited the building.
“The public are able to get access to the building and the fifth floor,” Inspector Maricic said.
He said suggestion the culprit was a disgruntled employee had not been verified.
“At this stage of the investigation we have no motive or suspect for the incident.”
About 300 to 350 people were evacuated to nearby Hyde Park. No-one was injured in the incident.
Source: news.com.au
Source of the picture: wikipedia.org