Tenants returning to Inverness flats destroyed in petrol bomb attack on police
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A block of flats destroyed by fire after a gas-mask wearing man hurled petrol bombs at police has started housing people again.
A third of the properties have been reopened to displaced residents says the housing association responsible for Polvanie View in Inverness.
Around six months ago it hoped to complete repairs costing £1.8 million this autumn – some 18 months after 11 families “lost everything” in the blaze.
Residents left homeless were rehoused in alternative accommodation and it has not yet been confirmed how many will choose to return.
Krzystof Andruczak (41) faced five charges for the attempted murder of police officers after throwing Molotov cocktail-style bottles during the incident on March 31 last year.
He also faced charges of wilful fire-raising and possessing two knives and a metal chain.
He was acquitted at a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow in February after prosecutors accepted he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time and did not "appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct".
After setting his own flat ablaze and hurling petrol bombs at police through a window, Andruczak, also clad in military-style camouflage, was finally restrained by firearms officers after being shot in the leg.
At a hearing called at the High Court in Glasgow in July, Lord Matthews imposed a compulsion order without limit of time for Andruczak to remain at the State Hospital in Carstairs for treatment.
During a clean-up at the flats, workmen discovered a cache of deadly weapons in the landing including a crossbow, bayonet, slingshot and hatchet.
Andrew Kilpatrick, director of assets at Caledonia Housing Association, said: “Four of the 12 properties have been completed and tenants have returned to their homes.
"We are on course to complete the remaining properties and expect tenants to have access to their homes in the coming weeks.”
It is understood any remaining homes will be made available through the Highland Housing Register.
