Police are investigating a suspected arson attack at a childcare centre in Castle Hill, the second hit on provider Play To Learn in recent days.

Castle Hill

A childcare centre in Castle Hill was the scene of a suspected arson attack after intruders forced entry and started a fire in one of the rear rooms. The incident occurred while residents were asleep, and a witness reported seeing two men fleeing the scene. 

The Castle Hill site, which opened recently, sustained minimal damage due to effective sprinkler systems. This attack follows a similar incident at another centre operated by the same organisation in Turramurra. Police are investigating both incidents and have increased patrols at the organisation's other locations. The centre will reopen to children once it is deemed safe.

Castle Hill childcare centre targeted in arson attack

An early morning call this childcare provider didn't expect once, let alone twice. I got the call just before 2am. Made me feel sick to my stomach. Very concerning. There's no doubt about that. Again, that's a residential street and it troubles us a lot. Played alone once again a crime scene, this time in a quiet Castle Hill neighbourhood. Dramatic. You don't expect to see that on a leafy, you know, suburban street like ours. It's believed the firebugs arrived as Excelsior Street residents slept at 1.30 this morning. It was entry forced at the rear of the premises and the fire was started in one of the rear rooms. Their path through a vacant lot behind the building. A witness who didn't want to be filmed told 10 News they heard glass smash early this morning, then saw two men jump the fence, one warning the other that police were on the way. Forensics today retraced those steps, zeroing in on what appeared to be a shoe print near the centre's back perimeter. The Castle Hill site only opened a month ago and fortunately the damage was minimal. It is a relatively new premise there and I think it has good sprinkler systems. The organisation now dealing with two police investigations as the hunt continues for the arsonists who struck the Turramurra Centre on Friday. We have no grievances, concerns, issues or internal investigations or anything that would even spark something like this. As investigations continue into attacks on two of its sites, police will be keeping a close eye on Play to Learn's three centres here in Sydney and on the Central Coast. There certainly would be some patrols of any other locations that might have a link to this. We've been operating for almost 20 years on the Central Coast and we have never experienced anything like this. The Castle Hill Centre will welcome back children when safe to do so. Hannah Taylor, 10 News.

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