Police hunt arsonist who set taxi ablaze in Whitstable

Police are hunting an arsonist who set a taxi on fire in Whitstable.

The vehicle was set alight outside the home of Lou Osman at approximately 12.15am on Friday 5 July.

Lou was at home with friends in Norman Road, Whitstable, when he discovered his father's cab had been set on fire whilst parked outside the house.

Police investigating the incident are now examining CCTV footage which was made available to them.

Mr Osman described how he was sitting in the garden with a few friends because his parents had gone away, when one of them alerted him there was a fire outside.

It was at that point he discovered that it was his father's taxi on fire and called the emergency services.

Kent Online reported that CCTV footage shows a hooded suspect walking along the street, before stopping outside the Osmans' home and walking onto their driveway, where the taxi was parked. It then shows him kneeling down beside the taxi apparently trying to light a fire. When the flames catch underneath the car, he stands up and walks off in the opposite direction.

A spokesperson confirmed that the fire was extinguished by crews from the Kent Fire and Rescue Service and the cause is believed to be suspicious.

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