Latest news with #DetInspDanielMcWhinnie
Telegraph
16 hours ago
- Telegraph
Girl, 14, arrested after ‘arson' at Grade I-listed manor
A 14-year-old girl has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a blaze at a Grade I-listed manor house. Merseyside Police said the fire at Woolton Hall, Liverpool, on Tuesday evening 'appears to have been an extremely reckless act' after the force had reports that a large number of youths were seen gathering nearby. The girl was taken into custody to be questioned and was conditionally bailed. Det Insp Daniel McWhinnie said: 'This appears to have been an extremely reckless act at a historic building that has stood at the site for hundreds of years. 'We know the community will be rightly shocked by what happened and we are determined to find all those responsible.' The force is appealing for anyone who was there, knows who was there, or parents whose children were out that night to come forward. The hall, which is privately owned, was built in 1704. It had previously been used as a hotel, an army hospital, a convent and a school, but has recently fallen into disrepair. Local campaigners have been calling for it to be saved for a number of years. In 2019, fire crews were called to tackle a suspected arson attack in outbuildings and worked to prevent the blaze spreading to the main building.
BBC News
17 hours ago
- BBC News
Girl, 14, arrested over fire at abandoned Woolton Hall
A 14-year-old girl has been arrested after a fire engulfed an abandoned Grade I-listed manor house that had stood for hundreds of years in Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) arrived at Woolton Hall, on Speke Road, at about 20:20 BST on Tuesday to tackle the blaze overnight. The 14-year-old girl, who is from Liverpool, was arrested on suspicion of arson and has been bailed after being questioned in custody, Merseyside Police said. Det Insp Daniel McWhinnie said the fire, which officers believe was started deliberately, "appears to have been an extremely reckless act at a historic building". He said the community "will be rightly shocked by what happened" and the force as determined to find those responsible. Reports of young people gathering by the hall shortly before the fire had been made to police on the night of the fire. The force has appealed to anyone with information about who was there to get in touch. "If you are a parent or guardian in the area and your child was out that night, we ask that you enquire about their movements and what they might know," Det Insp McWhinnie said. Anyone who was driving in the area near Speke Road on Tuesday and may have dashcam footage relevant to the investigation has also been urged to contact police. The main body of fire was extinguished put out at about 02:00 on Wednesday. A joint Merseyside Police investigation with MFRS is ongoing to establish the cause of the fire. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
