Police charge four people in relation to Valley crime spree
BREAKING 7.45PM: GATTON police have charged four people in relation to a crime spree which included the torching of a mobile school dental van in the Lockyer Valley last night.
The males aged 17, 18, 18 and 21 were refused bail and will appear in the Ipswich Magistrates Court tomorrow.
All four males have been charged with two counts of arson, two counts of enter premises to commit a indictable offence, two counts of wilful damage and one count of wilful damage to railway property.
EARLIER
UPDATE 4.20PM: GATTON police have arrested two 18-year-old males in relation to a crime spree which included the torching of a mobile school dental van.
Just after 11pm on Tuesday, police and Queensland Fire and Rescue Service officers were called to a fire at Gatton State High School.
A mobile dental van parked at the school was completely engulfed in flames.
The flames destroyed the van and began to spread onto a neighbouring building.
Once the fire was brought under control it was discovered that another building had been broken into and a computer had been stolen.
But the crime spree did not stop there with an ironic cruelty unfolding during the senseless acts of vandalism.
"Two vehicles were also damaged in William St and a railway boom gate was also damaged in Crescent St," Gatton officer-in-charge Tom Missingham said.
"One of the vehicles which was damaged belonged to one of the volunteer firefighters who was attending the fire at the school.
"It is believed he drove his car to the station and parked it in William St while he attended the fire with the QFRS."
Police are continuing their investigations into the incident.
UPDATE 1.45PM: A mobile dental van was destroyed in a fire last night at the Gatton State School.
Gatton police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Tom Missingham says police are treating the fire as suspicious.
"At 11.10pm last night (Tuesday) a 000 call was received in relation to a fire at the Gatton State School," he says.
"On arrival crews located a fire which had engulfed a mobile dental van which had been situated adjacent to C-Block.
"C-Block itself was on fire but QFRS were able to bring that under control before any significant damage had occurred."
Gatton State School principal Vince Burke says there is minimal impact on classes and plans to continue dental services externally were already being organised.
"I received a call last night about a fire in the dental van and that it had gone up into the classroom which is home to three learning support teachers," Burke says.
"Q-build was on site and have assessed the damage and at the moment we will have to replace part of the ceiling, flooring and some furniture, and just a refit.
"Two classes were moved due to the smell and smoke but will be back in their rooms by lunch."
EARLIER: Police are investigating a suspicious fire at the Gatton Primary School overnight.
Initial information suggested the fire destroyed a mobile dental van and caused considerable damage to an adjacent classroom at the William Street school around 11.15pm.
Police guarded the scene overnight and forensic officers attended the site this morning.
Police investigations are continuing.
