May 16, 2008

Luxury car torched in Redwood City

Witnesses give conflicting accounts of arson to police

By Shaun Bishop / Daily News Staff Writer

Redwood City police are trying to figure out why someone threw an incendiary device into a luxury car Wednesday night, engulfing it in flames and gutting the interior.

At 11:42 p.m., an arsonist used a projectile to break the passenger-side window of a parked 2000 Jaguar XJ6, then threw an accelerant inside, said police Detective Ken Cochran.

The interior of the car, parked near the corner of Franklin and Wilson streets, was destroyed, though no injuries were reported.

The motive for the attack a block away from the Sequoia Station shopping center remains unknown, but nothing about the vehicle leads police to believe it was gang-related, Cochran said.

Police have no description of the suspect and have received conflicting statements from witnesses about whether a getaway vehicle was involved, Cochran said.

Investigators finished inspecting the torched Jaguar on Thursday but have not determined what kind of accelerant was used, Cochran said. Police do not believe a bomb was used.

The Redwood City Fire Department responded within minutes to extinguish the blaze.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Redwood City Police Department at 650-780-7100.

E-mail Shaun Bishop at sbishop@dailynewsgroup.com.