By PATRICK GOWER
The arson spree in downtown Auckland last week was the "systematic" work of the same person or people, say police.
They believe the 14 fires, from 8.54pm on Tuesday to 11.45am on Wednesday, are all linked - and in no way related to the tragic coincidence of mental health outpatient Maria de Silva burning herself to death in Aotea Square the same night.
Detective Senior Sergeant Jon Moss, who heads the inquiry, said the spree was unusual enough in itself to decide there weren't "14 arsonists lighting 14 fires".
"We believe we are looking for a person, or people, who have systematically gone around and lit a number of fires ranging from rubbish bags to the Guardian Trust building."
The 20-strong investigation team was still reviewing security camera footage, not just from the police network of 49 cameras but from apartment blocks and commercial premises.
Mr Moss said he was looking at technology that could speed the process. He said police did not yet have a "smoking gun" image of the arsonist in action, and nor had any witnesses come forward.
The downtown area usually had about one suspicious fire a week, he said.
Police were looking at previous arsons in the city, and at people who had committed arsons before.
He called on people who walked through the city last Tuesday night to "rack their brains".
"It was an unusual night. There was quite a thick fog in the CBD - somebody described it to me as there being an eerie feeling around town that night.
"People should cast their minds back."
Although psychologists have talked about the likelihood of the arsonist being male, aged 17 to 30 and having a history of tagging and vandalism, Mr Moss said police would not look at creating a criminal profile of the arsonist until further into the investigation.
They were awaiting forensic results before saying what type of accelerant, if any, had been used.
The fires ranged from rubbish bins, one in an old coal trap at the back of Old Government House, and the destruction of the second floor of the Guardian Trust building - a blaze that firefighters believe could have become one of the biggest in the city for some time.
Police have released the Guardian Trust building back to its owners.
It was built between 1914 and 1918 as the headquarters for the insurance firm and has become an Auckland architectural landmark. Architect William Gummer designed it to "exude an air of solidity and prosperity".
The building is being redeveloped into New York-style apartments.
* Police have set up a phoneline for anyone with information about the fires. Call 0800 80FIRE, or 0800 803-473.
Same person lit the 14 CBD fires say police
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