## Step 2 - Reading

#### Oxfordshire arson attacks

You are going to read a newspaper article about arson attacks.

- Read the article and do assignment 1.
- Read the article again and do assignment 2.

#### Assignment 1

Copy and fill in the grid (on your own) and discuss the answers in your group.

What information do you get about/from: (use key words)
Andrew Main |
Jean Gladstone |
Alistair Cox |
Neil Cox |
Sandra Chadwick |
Police |
Council spokesman |

Man charged following spate of Oxfordshire arson attacks Friday 16 January 2015 22.51 GMT A man has been charged over a spate of arson attacks in south Oxfordshire that happened on Thursday. Andrew Main, 47, of Roke Marsh, Wallingford, has been charged with one count of arson with intent to endanger life and two counts of arson reckless as to whether life was endangered. The charges are in relation to fires in Crowmarsh Gifford and Roke Marsh in the early hours of Thursday morning in which a council office, a funeral parlour and a thatched cottage were targeted. He was remanded in custody to appear at Oxford magistrates’ court on Saturday. On Thursday night gale force winds helped reignite a fire in one of the buildings. Police said gas canisters were found at all three locations. Jean Gladstone, 80, whose thatched cottage was destroyed in the attacks, spoke on Friday of her relief that no one was injured. She escaped from her home in unharmed during the blaze, which began at around 3am. Just over 24 hours later she stood outside the cottage with a beaming smile, chatting to police officers while they maintained a cordon around her property. “I just want to thank all my friends,” she said. “I was very fortunate. We are thankful that everybody is safe.” Gladstone, who has lived in the cottage for nearly 40 years, went on: “I don’t want any publicity. It’s a fabulous village. They are all friends. It’s a family here. “People have been amazing, offering beds and everything. The only thing I took out of the house was a lovely bunch of flowers, simply because they were there as I rushed out.” Co-owner of the funeral home Alistair Cox said he believed the business was targeted as a case of mistaken identity. “They probably thought the home was a gatehouse to the council. I’ve got no idea why they set fire to the council building,” he told the Oxford Mail. His father, funeral director Neil Cox, 73, who lives next door to the building, said he heard a noise at about 3.15am and went out to see a car driving away at speed. The funeral home confirmed the business was unaffected by the blaze, which damaged only its offices. Sandra Chadwick, a partner at the funeral home, said: “It looks as if all of our office premises are totally smoke-damaged and all the furniture in our arranging room has gone. “We have got bodies in the premises but they are all safe. “They are all contained in the rear of the premises which has been untouched by the fire. “We would like to reassure our families that their loved ones are safe. “Thank goodness no one was hurt. I’m devastated, but I’m so relieved that it wasn’t any worse. We will carry on.” Police said in a statement: “It is believed that a vehicle collided with the South Oxfordshire district council building prior to the fire.” South Oxfordshire district council, which shares its office and operations with Vale of White Horse district council, described the damage as “extensive”, adding that most of its services, including housing and planning, have been affected. Attempts were being made to rehouse its 400 staff. A council spokesman said: “We are putting our business continuity plan into place to make sure the effect on the most important services is kept to a minimum.” Source: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/16/man-charged-oxfordshire-arson-attacks-andrew-main