Strike Force Strontium detectives have charged two teenage boys in relation to a suspicious multi-storey building fire in Surry Hills earlier this year.
Just after 4pm on Thursday (25 May 2023), emergency services responded to reports of a large building fire on Randle Street, Surry Hills.
More than 100 firefighters from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) attended and utilised specialist equipment to contain and extinguish the blaze; however, the building was completely destroyed.
Two neighbouring buildings were also significantly damaged by the fire and were required to be demolished.
Dozens of people were evacuated from nearby buildings as a precaution; no injuries were reported at the time and no persons remain unaccounted for.
Officers attached to Sydney City and Surry Hills Police Area Command established a crime scene and commenced inquiries, before Arson Unit detectives from State Crime Command's Financial Crimes Squad took carriage under Strike Force Strontium.
Detectives were assisted by FRNSW's Fire Investigation and Research Unit.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives issued court attendance notices today (Wednesday 23 August 2023), to two 13-year-old teenage boys for the offences of destroy property in company use fire etc more than $5000, and enter enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse.
One of the boys was also charged with two counts of shoplifting, that are alleged to have occurred at a grocery store on Elizabeth Street on the same day (Thursday 25 May 2023).
Both teenage boys will appear at a children's court on Wednesday 4 October 2023.
