Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the fire on Ghuznee Street in central Wellington yesterday who has not yet reported information to Police, especially four young people seen entering the building prior to the fire.
Police have been working with FENZ this morning and are satisfied that no one was trapped in the building during the fire.
The cause of the fire is not yet known and enquiries are under way to establish how it started
The building has sustained serious structural damage and it has now been handed over to the Wellington City Council who are commencing demolition.
Police have received reports of four young people (three boys, one girl) aged around 10-15 years old jumping the fence at the rear of the building shortly before the fire and Police would like to speak with them. They were last seen in Cuba Mall around 2.20pm yesterday, Sunday 15 October.
Police also understand people have been accessing the building from the Wilsons carpark in the days before the fire and would like to speak to anyone that has knowledge of this or who may have seen anything suspicious in the area, particular between 1.30-2.30pm Sunday 15 October.
If you have any information that may assist Police please contact Police on 105 or online via https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 using update report, please reference file number: 231015/6874
Alternatively you can report any information anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
