Strike Force hunting fourth man over $10-million arson attack

Strike Force detectives are hunting a fourth man over an alleged arson attack that caused an estimated $10 million worth of damage to the historic Parramatta Public School in May.

An aspiring rap star from Greystanes is among three men charged by officers from the Financial Crimes Squad’s Arson Unit, after two 19-year-olds and a 20-year-old Rosehill man were arrested.

They’re accused of breaking into Parramatta Primary School in the early hours of May 19 before setting the building alight and fleeing.

Along with four men, three 17-year-old girls were captured on CCTV entering the school grounds. 

“The three girls have made contact with the accused on the night in question. Whilst not being overly known to them, they were present with them for a fair portion of the night,” Detective Acting Superintendent Richard Puffett told 9News.

Following a public appeal, the teens handed themselves into police before helping lead detectives to the men accused.

“We don’t think it was an act that had a lot of preparation. We think it was more spontaneous, and as I said before, stupid,” said Puffett.

The three men were given strict conditional bail and will front Parramatta Local Court in September, while detectives continue to search for a fourth man believed to be involved.

“There's a fourth male that we are keen to catch up with. That male knows who he is and he knows that we know who he is, so we'd encourage him to approach the Strike Force so that we can establish and finalise his role in this.”