Two Iceland delivery vans have been targeted in a “sickening” arson attack during the UK coronavirus lockdown.
It comes as supermarket chains across the country are facing an increasing, high demand for delivery services as people are ordering online to help curb the spread of Covid-19.
The delivery vans were destroyed in the attack outside an Iceland store in Southmead, in Bristol, on Monday night.
Richard Walker, Iceland’s managing director, said: “At a time when home delivery is literally a lifeline for some vulnerable people, this is sickening.”
2 of our vans in Southmead were burnt out last night during disturbances in the town. At a time when home delivery is literally a lifeline for some vulnerable people, this is sickening. pic.twitter.com/rctNiIkRia
— Richard Walker (@icelandrichard) March 24, 2020
Iceland said that disturbances started at 9.30pm yesterday.
“Police riot vans were called out and youths threw missiles at the police as they tried to disperse them,” the retailer said.
“Later in the evening the two home delivery vans parked outside our Southmead store were set alight and the fire brigade attended to put out the fire.
“The vans will both have to be written off. We believe this to be an act of mindless vandalism rather than a targeted attack on Iceland.”
It added: “While we can and will bring in replacement vans to maintain our home delivery service in Southmead, our entire van fleet is running at absolutely full capacity at the moment.
“It is shocking and distressing that anyone would act so callously to put vehicles out of service at precisely the time when they are most needed to deliver food to the most vulnerable people in society.”
Avon and Somerset Police were also investigating other incidents that took place in Henbury and Southmead, including criminal damage and a car being set on fire which could be linked to the delivery vans.
The force said multiple incidents took place between 10pm on Monday and 12.30am on Tuesday.
These included a resident having a brick through their window in Tranmere Avenue and cars being smashed up in Ullswater Road and Strathearn Drive.
A car was also set on fire in Charlton Lane so close to a house that the family had to evacuate to the back garden until it was made safe.
This is leaving residents in the area questioning wether or not the attack is a rebellion to the lockdown rules put in place by Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier that evening.
Patrolling Police officers found the Iceland van fire while officers were flagged down by a member of the public over the car damage in Strathearn Drive.
Chief Inspector Mark Runacres said: “Just hours after the Prime Minister announced that everyone in the country should stay home to save lives, it is beyond belief that anyone would be so reckless and thoughtless.
“Officers were already patrolling the area following recent instances of anti-social behaviour and we’ll continue to do so.
“We put an order in place last night to give officers extra powers to disperse groups and will continue to use our existing powers to tackle this problem.
“We are working with our communities and partners to identify and take appropriate action against those responsible. If you have any information which could help, get in touch.
“We believe that a group of teenagers were involved in these disturbances. I have one message for them, their parents and carers. Stay at home. Save lives.”
Obviously their brain was left behind when they were born.
Sad people, wait until one of their family died of the virus.
You can not prove anything by these senseless acts.
Why did the Police not taser them since it was threatening people’s life?
Did they steal the food inside the vans first?