Woman who burned down shop 'known to staff'

A woman caught on camera apparently setting a Auckland drycleaners ablaze with petrol was known to shop staff, police said today.

They said investigations were continuing into the incident, which happened in the inner city suburb of Parnell during afternoon rush hour yesterday. No arrest had yet been made.

Footage filmed by a member of the public and shown on television news showed the woman throwing an orange container at the shop, which erupted into flames, and then kicking a nearby car.

A Fire Service spokeswoman said multiple calls were received about 5pm about a fire at a two-storey building in Parnell Rd.

When firefighters arrived, the ground floor housing the 15m by 20m drycleaners was "well involved" with flames.

People were reported to be inside the building and a search by fire crew using breathing gear was done.

The shop was found to be empty and everyone was later accounted for.

The blaze gutted the premises and also destroyed an automatic telling machine.

- NZPA