Car explodes in Scots street after thugs target motor in late night attack

A car exploded on a residential street in Paisley after being torched by thugs in a late night attack.

Shocked residents were wakened by the blast on Fairway Avenue in Paisley at around 12.40am on Wednesday, September 4.

Emergency services were called to the scene where fire crews found the motor alight. Cops say the blaze is being treated as wilful and that have launched a probe into the incident.

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Doorbell footage obtained by the Record shows the car engulfed in flames just moments after the explosion. Shortly after emergency services can be seen racing down the street with their sirens on.

Locals told how an almighty bang shook the street before explosions, which sounded like gunshots, rang out.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I was asleep but heard an almighty bang and got to my feet to look outside. It was quite scary, I didn't know what it was at first until I saw the car on fire.

"Everyone else in my house woke up with the noise, and lots of my neighbours were looking out of their windows too.

"After the first bang, there were a few more smaller explosions coming from the vehicle until the emergency services arrived and put the fire out."

Neighbour Chris James Brown said: "I was woken up by the loud bangs, it sounded like a gun going off."

Images later showed the burnt out motor on the street just yards from family homes. The windows had been blown out of the charred motor and the seats melted.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 12.40am on Wednesday, September 4, we were called to a report of a car on fire in Fairway Avenue, Paisley. The fire is being treated as wilful and enquiries are ongoing.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were alerted at 12.40am on Wednesday, 4 September, to reports of a vehicle well alight on Fairway Avenue in Paisley, Renfrewshire.

“Operations Control mobilised one appliance, and firefighters extinguished the fire affecting one car.

“There were no reported casualties and crews the scene left after ensuring the area was made safe.”

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