Taxi firm is petrol bombed

Lorraine Tinney 1626 - 1626 • Published 10 Jun 2009 14:00

A MAN and woman were forced to flee in terror after thugs petrol-bombed a Port Glasgow taxi firm.

The two workers at Star Taxis had to dodge the flames as they escaped from the company"s office in Princes Street.

The controllers had been changing shifts shortly before midnight on Monday when two men threw the fuel-filled containers through the door.

Devastated owner Liam Docherty said: 'My first concern is for my staff and they could have been killed.

'The woman got a terrible shock and she"s taken a few days off.

'There was a lot of smoke damage and four drivers were there all night to help me clean the office out. I"m glad I"ve got good staff who stand by me.

'I"m gutted someone hates me enough to do this.'

Taxi driver John Gibson, 61, said: 'There"s only one way in and one way out.

'They could have been killed if the bomb had been put through the back office. The plastic window in the office was melted.'

Detective John Dearie, of Greenock Police, said: 'They had a lucky escape.

'It is very fortunate the fire did not take hold and staff managed to run past the flames to get out of the building, especially when there is only one exit.

'It is extremely reckless behaviour to set fire to an office when people are inside.

'The consequences could have been far greater, especially if the fire had blocked the exit.

'The fire more or less went out itself and the perspex staff sit behind protected them'

This is the second time the firm has been petrol-bombed in less than 12 months. Petrol was poured onto the roof in July last year but luckily no one was injured.

Two men were seen running off towards the direction of a car shortly afterwards on Barr"s Brae, and staff heard the car making off.

One of the men is 6ft tall, while the other is smaller and both have a medium build.

They were both wearing dark clothes and were wearing hooded tops.

Anyone with information should call Greenock police on 492500. British Transport Police are also investigating the incident.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 10 Jun 09

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