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TWO HOMES WERE TARGETED IN STOCKTON AFTER THE OCCUPANTS WERE WARNED BY POLICE TO LEAVE THE AREA NAOMI CORRIGAN Multi-media Journalist 14:47, 03 Jun 2025 North East neighbourhoods have been
plagued by a spate of suspected targeted arson attacks, causing such distress that residents were advised to abandon their homes for safety. In a particularly harrowing account, one Stockton
resident reported hearing "a pop" before witnessing a garden engulfed in flames, following warnings issued on Monday night about a potential 'petrol bomb' threat at
Windmill Terrace in Tilery, as detailed to Teesside Live. Earlier the same evening, a car was reportedly set ablaze with a petrol bomb at Piper Knowle Road in Hardwick. Police are also
investigating three additional episodes from the same evening, taking place at Heaton Road in Billingham and Trefoil Court and Newton Walk in Norton, with indications they were deliberate
and utilised accelerants. These dreadful occurrences followed a series of fires the previous night across town, which authorities suspect to be interrelated. In response to these alarming
events, four individuals, including a teenager aged 15, have been apprehended. A police update on Tuesday disclosed: "Overnight (Monday into today) police received reports of incidents
on Heaton Road, Piper Knowle Road, Windmill Terrace, Trefoil Court and Newton Walk in Stockton where accelerants were discharged onto vehicles or towards addresses.", reports Teesside
Live. "No-one was injured in these incidents and whilst officers are keeping an open mind into these incidents which are believed to be targeted and not random, we are investigating
whether they may be linked with previously reported incidents from Sunday/Monday. Four people arrested in connection with Sunday/Monday's incidents remain in custody being
questioned." Article continues below She mentioned officers are still present in the areas affected carrying out high-visibility reassurance patrols as "extensive enquiries"
are ongoing. Photographs from Windmill Terrace on Tuesday display a police cordon surrounding the property. Adjoining neighbours informed TeessideLive about a warning from the police around
7.30pm on Monday – about four hours before the attack unfolded. OUR CHRONICLELIVE DAILY NEWSLETTER IS FREE. YOU CAN SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT HERE. IT WILL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE
LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND TOP STORIES FROM THE NORTH EAST. One shared: "The police asked me if I could move somewhere safe. They said we have to take the threat of a petrol bomb
seriously. "She said we'll put you in a safe house and I said I've got family. I stayed with my son." Upon assurance that the attackers had left, she returned home.
"When they said they've been and gone, I came back home," she detailed. Another neighbour recounted also being pre-warned regarding the menace of the attack earlier that
night. She was tucked up in bed when the offence occurred. "I didn't see anything I just heard a pop," she reported. "I was in the bedroom watching telly, obviously not
sleeping. "I heard the pop and I thought I'll have a nose and saw the garden on fire. I shouted to our lad, grabbed my phone and rang 999. I didn't hear or see anything. I
just heard the pop." A representative for Cleveland Fire Brigade reported that a car fire spread to a house at 11.30pm. Two crews from Thornaby Fire Station were dispatched and used one
hose reel, two breathing apparatus and a positive pressure ventilator to put out the flames. "There was fire damage to the door and smoke damage to the property," the spokesperson
stated. This incident followed another fire on the same night in Piper Knowle Road in Hardwick, where a car was reportedly set ablaze with a petrol bomb. Article continues below Two crews
from Stockton Fire Station attended and used one hose reel to extinguish the fire. The incident is currently under investigation by Cleveland Police. A police spokeswoman said officers are
maintaining a high visibility presence in the affected areas and "extensive enquiries" are ongoing. "We would encourage anyone with concerns to speak to our officers and we
would also welcome information which could assist our investigations," she added. "Please call 101 if you have information or footage from any of the locations above. If you
don't want to speak to police you can pass information anonymously to www.crimestoppers-uk.org or phone them on 0800 555 111."