"On the banks of the River Clyde, half an hour to the south-east of Glasgow, Bothwell is one of the city's prettiest and most prosperous commuter towns, famous for its medieval castle and annual scarecrow festival. Bothwell's Victorian villas and secluded enclaves of luxury modern mansions sell into the millions to the TV personalities, professional footballers and entrepreneurs who favour its environs."
"These are the latest evidence of what police believe are targeted arson attacks that have plagued this closely knit community for at least a decade. Data secured from Police Scotland by the Daily Record at the end of 2025 revealed there had been 27 incidents of fire raising in the town since 2021, affecting restaurants, vehicles and occasionally private residences, leading Bothwell to be nicknamed the firebomb capital of the UK."
Bothwell sits half an hour southeast of Glasgow on the River Clyde, known for a medieval castle, annual scarecrow festival, Victorian villas and high-value modern homes. Main Street is a conservation area with floral displays and independent shops, but also shows gap sites and burned-out buildings from suspected targeted arson spanning at least a decade. Police Scotland data at the end of 2025 recorded 27 fire-raising incidents since 2021 affecting restaurants, vehicles and some private residences, earning the town the nickname 'firebomb capital of the UK.' Only one suspect has been identified, there have been no prosecutions, and at least two businesses have left the area.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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