Petrol bomb attack

Today's incident at Acorn Office Equipment Ltd, business equipment suppliers, Systems House, Accrington Road, follows an arson attack at the same premises only two nights ago.

Owner Barbara Hamley said: "We thought Tuesday's incident was probably the work of children.

"Now following what has happened this morning it is looking more sinister, but who knows?" Mrs Hamley who has been at the company for 12 years said: "We have had trouble with vandals at intervals over the years. We just used to get windows broken but now they are boarded up with the exception of a couple of small ones, one of which they found this morning."

Five people work on the premises but no-one was there at the time of either of this week's attacks.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Burnley CID on 01282 472144 or ring Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.

Emergency services arrived at 4.10am today to find that a ground floor window was smashed and inside, trapped between a filing cabinet and window sill, was a milk bottle which had contained a substance thought to be petrol.

Fire and Rescue Services Station Officer Dave Jackson said: "Fortunately it had not gone off properly and little damage was caused.

"It follows an incident at 8.30pm on Tuesday night when a fire was started outside the building and spread to the timber cladding."

Today's alarm was sounded when the burglar alarm went off. Police went to investigate and saw the fire.

No-one at the company was available for comment. Det Insp Tony Ronan said: "We are treating this incident very seriously and are continuing our investigations. "At this stage we are looking into all possibilities, whether it might have been children responsible or someone particularly targeting these premises." DI Ronan said anyone making petrol bomb type devices was putting themselves and others at risk.

He appealed for anyone who saw anythign suspicious in the area or who can help with any information to contact police.