Police are investigating an arson attack at the Highfield House Asylum Hotel in Southampton after a flare was thrown through a ground-floor window in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Emergency services were called to the hotel on Highfield Lane at around 2:15am on Sunday, 7 September, following reports that a flare had been put through an open window. The resulting fire was quickly extinguished and, fortunately, there were no injuries.
Detectives say two people were seen approaching the hotel shortly before the incident. Both fled the scene along Shaftesbury Avenue afterwards. One suspect was described as wearing a dark hooded top with his face covered, while the other was wearing a white hooded top.
Officers spent Sunday at the hotel conducting enquiries, and police patrols in the Portswood area have been increased this week as the investigation continues.
Chief Inspector Chris Douglas said: “Fortunately, this fire was quickly put out, but this was an extremely dangerous act and could have had fatal consequences.
“Our local neighbourhood policing team will be carrying out additional patrols in Portswood in the coming days, and if anyone has any concerns then please do speak to them.
“I want to urge anyone with information, however small you think it may be, to get in touch and share this with us. If you have any CCTV which may have captured the two men either in the moments leading up to or after the incident, then we would ask you to share this with us.
“We are working closely with local authorities as part of this investigation.”
Police are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time or who may have information to contact them on 101 or via their website, quoting reference 44250404868.
Local residents told this newspaper that around half an hour after the flare incident, a coach carrying asylum seekers arrived at the hotel.
