Terrifying moment West Lothian family car torched as 'young boy sleeps upstairs'

Edinburgh Live

28-05-2025

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The horrifying moment a car was torched outside a family home in West Lothian was captured on CCTV.
The incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday morning, on Kingfisher Brae in Livingston. On May 28, police were called to the home after mum Claire Campbell took her son, who is eight-years-old, into the garden.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Claire said her son woke up as the two individuals poured petrol on the car and set it alight. In the can be heard shouting "Dad, your car is on fire" in terrifying footage shared by the Daily Record that captured the incident at around 1am.
Claire said: "I've lived here in this house for eight years and never any bother or trouble.
"Luckily I was awake, watching TV in my bedroom and my window was open or it would have been a lot worse. I had to take my eight-year-old son into the garden at 1am because we were instructed to do so by the fire brigade in case the car blew up, and he was terrified.
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"I've no idea why they would do this. Maybe they targeted the car because it was white and the damage would look worse."
The clip shows the pair outside the property, at the rear of the white BMW, throwing liquid on the vehicle. Seconds later flames engulf the back of the car as the thugs scarper from the scene.
Police say one was wearing a grey, white and black hooded top, grey jogging bottoms and dark trainers. The other man was wearing a black balaclava, a blue hooded top with white stripes down the arms, blue jogging bottoms and black trainers with white sole.
Another video shows two fire appliances on the street, with a number of officers outside the vehicles. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has been approached for comment.
Claire said two police vans were also scrambled to the area following the incident. It comes as cops also said the incident comes after another white car was targeted in the area at the weekend.
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Just after midnight on Sunday May, 25, a white Ford Fiesta Zetec was set alight in Ladeside Avenue, Blackburn. A man described as being of average height, of medium build, wearing a balaclava, grey Berghaus jacket and matching bottoms was seen in the area.
Detective Inspector John Irvine said: "Our enquiries are ongoing and we are appealing to anyone who may have information to contact us.
"I would also ask anyone with private CCTV of the area at the time to come forward. You may have captured something that can assist our investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident 0215 of 28 May, 2025. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111."
It's understood that neither of the incidents are related to gang violence which has swept the country in recent weeks.