Man arrested over fire at former Perth primary school
Two crews and a height appliance remain on the scene on Sunday morning to carry out dampening down work, the SFRS said.There were not thought to be any casualties, but a number of properties were evacuated as a precaution, Police Scotland said.
One eyewitness told BBC Scotland News: "I drove past at about 01:30 and the roof had collapsed."There was a full fire-smoke tornado engulfing the building."The flames began to subside about an hour later and the red glow was almost completely gone by about 03:30."She added staff at a local garage had provided coffee and water to emergency responders, while a nearby branch of McDonald's had handed out food.
Dunkeld Road, Balhousie Street and Muirton Place were closed off and drivers and pedestrians have been warned to avoid the area.Nearby residents were warned to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke coming from the scene.Balhousie Primary School was closed in 2023 when pupils were moved to the new Riverside Primary.
It is the second major fire to hit a building in the city in the space of a week after a tenement on the corner of South Street and Scott Street was destroyed last Saturday.A man died and an eight-year-old girl was taken to hospital, while Perth and Kinross Council said the building would have to be completely demolished due to the damage.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Labubu dolls: Danger warning over fakes found in Aberdeen
Fakes of the globally popular Labubu dolls seized recently in Scotland are "potentially dangerous", according to trading standards elf-like creature from Chinese toy maker Pop Mart are the latest craze in collectibles and have gone viral on social media. But officials in Aberdeen are warning consumers and businesses to be alert, following the seizure of "counterfeit and potentially dangerous" versions of the toys from shops in the had loose parts which could pose a choking hazard. The council's trading standards team seized the counterfeit Labubu toys from four premises across the did not have the required safety standards manager Graeme Paton said: "Following the discovery of counterfeit toys, we want to alert consumers and particularly parents to be extra vigilant."These counterfeit toys can seem like a bargain compared with trying to source the genuine toy, especially when they are a much-sought-after item, but they are potentially dangerous."He added: "Counterfeit toys can potentially pose significant dangers to young children such as chemical exposure and choking hazards. "These products routinely lack proper safety testing and we encourage anyone concerned about the safety of toys they've purchased to get in touch with us via Consumer Advice Scotland." What are Labubu dolls? Labubu is both a fictional character and a word itself does not mean is the name of a character in "The Monsters" toy series created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing vinyl faces are attached to plush bodies, and come with a signature look - pointy ears, big eyes and a mischievous grin showing nine teeth.A curious yet divided internet cannot seem to decide if they are adorable, or just bizarre.
Edinburgh Live
an hour ago
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian schoolgirl missing for over 48 hours as police issue urgent appeal
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Get the latest Edinburgh Live breaking news on WhatsApp Police have issued an urgent appeal after a West Lothian teenager went missing. Melissa Boulton, 15, was last seen in Kirknewton at around 11.30am on June 30. She has not been seen since, with concerns growing for her welfare. Officers described her as a white female, around five foot nine, of a medium build with long dyed red hair. She was last seen wearing a black top with black Nike jogging bottoms. Melissa is known to have links to Currie, Clermiston and Tranent. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We're appealing for the public's help as part of our efforts to trace Melissa Boulton reported missing from Kirknewton. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "Melissa Boulton was last seen in Kirknewton around 11.30hrs on 30th June 2025. The 15 year old has not been seen since and there are growing concerns for their welfare. "Melissa is described as white female, 5ft 9, medium build, with long dyed red hair. She may have a nose ring and was last seen wearing a black top with black Nike jogging bottoms. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. "Melissa also has links to Currie, Clermiston and Tranent where they might have travelled." Anyone who may have seen Melissa is urged to contact police on 101 quoting incident number 0089.
Edinburgh Live
2 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Twisted West Lothian police officer threatened to torch house of partner's mum
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A West Lothian police officer threatened to set fire to his partner's mother's home and spread vicious lies her step-father was a child molester during a horror campaign of domestic abuse. PC Tariq Mahmood, 45, told the terrified victim he would 'strangle or stab' her as she slept and threatened to take the couple's child away from her. The woman said Mahmood constantly criticised her parenting skills, made derogatory remarks about her clothes and looks and accused of her of dressing to impress other men. She also claimed Mahmood refused to speak to her if she did not have sex with him and only complimented her when she wore traditional Asian clothing during two years of abuse between December 2019 and November 2021. The woman, also a serving police officer at the time, told a court she was so terrified by the brute's behaviour after they split she was forced to change the locks at her home and sleep with a metal bar across the front door. Mahmood, from Livingston, West Lothian, denied the allegations but was found guilty of abusing the woman following a five day trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this year. He was also found guilty of engaging in a course of behaviour that was abusive of a second former partner by shouting, swearing and assaulting her, all between April 2019 and February 2022. A Police Scotland chief has now slammed the conduct of the disgraced officer and commended the bravery of the victims for coming forward to report him. Mahmood returned to the capital court for sentencing on Wednesday where Sheriff John Cook said he had committed 'serious offences' but said there was an alternative to custody. Sheriff Cook sentenced the officer to a two year supervision order and said he must complete 120 hours of unpaid work as punishment. The sheriff also ordered Mahmood to attend sessions with the domestic abuse organisation Up2U and handed out non-harassment orders regarding both women for four years. Defence advocate Edith Forrest KC said her client continued to 'maintain his denial' to the offences but he wanted to apologise to both victims. Ms Forrest said Mahmood first joined the police in his native Birmingham in 2008 before moving north and transferring to Police Scotland 10 years later. The advocate said he now plans to resign from his position in the force following the convictions. The trial heard from one victim who said she met Mahmood while they were both serving police officers and after forming a relationship she fell pregnant with his child in December 2019. The woman said Mahmood formed an instant hatred of her mother and step-father and had issued a threat to burn down their house and claimed the man was a paedophile. She said when the couple's child was born he became 'controlling' and 'unpredictable' and had warned her he had 'more parental rights' than her. The woman said: 'I told him he was coercive and he didn't like that at all. I knew he was using [the child] as a control measure and he just wanted me to know [the child] was his. 'He was shocked I had pointed out that. We were both police officers and both had training in coercive control and domestic abuse.' The woman said Mahmood had also threatened to take the child away from her after the couple had split in September 2021. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. She said: 'I took [the child] to my grans house to stop him taking her to Birmingham because he said she would be better off with his family. 'I wasn't sure if he was going to take her to Pakistan where he had family. 'I was terrified he was going to take her and I would never see her again. I was really scared of him.' She said the abuse also involved the police officer constantly mocking her parenting skills and admitted she was left 'terrified' of him after they split up. She told the court: 'He said he would strangle me or stab me in my sleep, then pass it off as a joke. I was scared of him, really scared of him. I was scared what he was capable of. 'I was scared I would wake up one day and he would be at the bottom of my bed. He tried to break me when I was at my lowest point.' Chief Superintendent Helen Harrison, of Police Scotland, said: 'Mahmood's actions go against everything Police Scotland stands for. "Our thoughts are with the victims and I hope this conviction provides them with some measure of closure. I commend their strength in reporting these crimes and bringing this individual to justice. "We understand how difficult it can be to report these kinds of offences, particularly when the perpetrator is a police officer. "We want the public to be reassured that all reports are thoroughly investigated, no matter when the offending took place or who is involved. 'All officers are bound by our Standards of Professional Behaviour, which apply on and off duty. Any instance where an officer fails to uphold our standards will be investigated and appropriate action taken.'
