Forensics frustrated in Cutty Sark investigation
Police at the scene of the Cutty Sark fire are struggling to make progress
Also In The News
|
Good, bad or just the same old, same old. |  |
Wednesday, 23, May 2007 06:46
A forensic examination has failed to progress the police investigation into the fire which partially destroyed the Cutty Sark ship on Monday.
Officers from the Metropolitan police service, the London fire brigade, the Forensic Science Service and "a specialist forensic company employed by the Cutty Sark Trust's insurers" spent the day trying to find a cause for the blaze, without success.
As a result Greenwich police are continuing to focus on security footage of the ship before the fire, which was initially reported at 04:47 BST on Monday morning.
"Forensic examination of the remains of the Cutty Sark has finished. It was inconclusive as to the cause of the fire," a statement released this evening said.
"Greenwich police continue to make enquiries and view CCTV footage from around the area. At this stage, we have no major leads and enquiries continue."
The fire, which was not put out until 08:01 BST, left most of the 138-year-old tea clipper's hull charred black and its iron structure warped.
Conservationists hope the ship, housed in a dry dock at William Wark in Greenwich, south London, can be restored as much of the vessel was undergoing renovation work elsewhere. The final bill is likely to be much greater than the original £25 million earmarked for the project, however.
Police continue to view the fire as suspicious and have appealed for those with information about the incident to come forward.