The principal of a New Plymouth school badly damaged in an arson attack does not believe any of his students are involved.
The fire at Spotswood College gutted a new pre-fab building used as a senior students' common room in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Police and fire services were called about 12.30am to the blaze, which appeared to have been started using furniture piled up in the middle of the room, Detective Sergeant Greg Grey said.
"It would appear to be arson given the location of where the fire started and where the seat of the fire was."
There had also been a number of windows broken and other damage around the school grounds, which also made the fire appear suspicious. Principal Graeme McFadyen said he arrived at the scene about 1.30am.
The building was two years old, and worth about $65,000. "It was just a very sombre feeling, it was a feeling of devastation." Mr McFadyen said he did not believe any students from the school were involved in starting the blaze.
"There is no evidence of that at this stage."
Footage from the school's five security cameras would be handed over to police.
"They have been very effective in reducing acts of vandalism in the past," he told The Taranaki Daily News.
The blaze had had a big impact on the college community.
"The students are broken-hearted, insulted and upset that other people have come into their college and this is how they've acted," Mr McFadyen said.
"It's mindless vandalism, I abhor what has happened."
It was hoped the building could be rebuilt before the school's jubilee at Easter 2010.
