Owner of Llanelli cafe damaged in arson attack claims spate of similar attacks on businesses in Carmarthenshire could be linked

A business owner whose newly established cafe was burned down has expressed his shock and sadness at the loss of the local facility in Bynea. Ryan Hare and Steffan Griffiths are the owners of Hideaway Cafe, which was subjected to an arson attack in the early hours of Sunday morning. Thankfully no one was hurt although Ryan said there could have been a fatality if one of the members of staff who sometimes spent the night at the premises had been there.

Incredibly the person who committed the act walked away from the huge explosion, which had engulfed them in flames. Mr Hare believes the person would have suffered some burns from the blast.

Speaking exclusively to Carmarthenshire News Online today Mr Hare said that he had lost most of what he and his partner had ploughed into the business but more importantly his staff had lost their jobs at the worse possible time of year. Mr Hare has organised a GoFundMe page in order to try and assist his staff with some financial support.

The emergency services attended the premises which had been attacked by a person carrying a green petrol can. The person can be seen in the CCTV footage smashing the window before pouring petrol into the premises and setting it alight.

Mr Hare said that he could rebuild the business with some help and he hoped to reemploy the staff. Some other businesses were also affected by the fire damage. Mr Hare suggested that there had been a spate of similar attacks on business premises in Carmarthenshire the last year or so and that he could not rule out a link to the same perpetrators as being behind the attacks.

We contacted Dyfed-Powys police to ask if they had any information, which could support the claim that incidents of arson attacks and criminal damage on businesses in the Carmarthenshire area could be linked and the work of an organised gang.

Dyfed-Powys Police said: Police received a call just after 1.40am, Sunday December 17th, reporting a fire at an unit in the industrial estate in Bynea.

The property, called the ‘The Loaded Lounge’, previously known as ‘The Hideaway café’, suffered extensive damage.
The fire is being treated as suspicious.

No casualties reported in connection with the incident.

Anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to Dyfed-Powys Police, either online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk, or by calling 101. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908.

Quote reference: 23001282341.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.