Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
Investigators of a ‘suspicious’ blaze which destroyed a $24 million waterfront property have discovered fire accelerant within the Northwood home’s charred remains.
A FIRE accelerant has been detected among the charred remains of a $24 million dollar waterfront home which burnt down in suspicious circumstances.
Specially trained Fire and Rescue NSW sniffer dogs picked up the scent on Monday which has now become a crucial part of the police investigation.
The fire was already being treated as suspicious after a mystery person was captured on CCTV running from the vicinity of the Cliff Rd property moments before it went up in flames on Saturday night.
Devastated owner Ouyang Chen was seen inspecting what was left of his prized heritage house on Tuesday, but waved his hand and did not want to talk about the fire.
He placed a red bag with some belongings in the back of a Toyota dual cab, then drove off.
There is no suggestion Mr Chen had anything to do with the fire.
A NSW Fire and Rescue source told The Daily Telegraph an accelerant had been detected at the Cliff Rd property, but it was not clear what the ignitable liquid was.
Detectives from the NSW Police arson squad continued canvassing the street looking for witnesses or CCTV.
Neighbours said Mr Chen and his wife Xiao Hong Le had not moved in to the house they bought from the Rossi family late last year for $24.1 million, nor did they live at the one they own directly next door, which they purchased in 2007 for $5.6 million.
The Chen’s have been living around the corner on Northwood Rd in a third house they own in the suburb, while they await the outcome of a Development Application submitted to Lane Cove Council to demolish the smaller house they own on Cliff Rd.
Council knocked back the first DA because of the ‘negative impacts’ it would have on the heritage listed property next door.
The Chen’s submitted a modified proposal in July which is still being considered.
Mystery person seen running from ‘suspicious’ fire
It comes as a mystery person captured on CCTV running from the vicinity of a $24m waterfront property moments before it went up in flames could hold the key to what happened to the home.
The NSW Police arson squad has taken charge of investigating how the fire started at the heritage-listed mansion in Northwood while no one was home.
Specialist accelerant detection sniffer dogs were led through the charred remains of the Cliff Rd property yesterday, while the homeowner Ouyang Chen watched on.
Mr Chen and his wife Xiao Hong Le bought the property from the family of the late travel industry “queen” Mary Rossi in December last year, and also own the house next door, where they live.
