NSW police charge teens after school fire at Raymond Terrace

Two teenage boys have been charged after allegedly deliberately lighting a fire at a school in the Hunter region overnight.

Emergency services were called to the school on Greer Street, Raymond Terrace, just after 10.30pm (Sunday 20 March 2022), after reports two demountable buildings were engulfed by flames.

Crews from Fire and Rescue NSW attended and extinguished the blaze, which had destroyed the buildings.

On inspection of other buildings within the school grounds, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District observed a number of classrooms had been broken into and vandalised, causing significant damage.

A crime scene was established, which was examined by specialist forensic officers.

Following inquiries, two teenage boys – aged 14 and 15 – were arrested about 1am today (Monday 21 March 2022) and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station.

They have both been charged with aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, destroy/damage property in company by fire, and destroy/damage property in company.

Both teenagers were refused bail to appear at a children’s court later today (Monday 21 March 2022).

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