‘Like a bomb had gone off’: suspected arson attack fuels Glastonbury unease

Scene of suspected arson attack on one of the many caravans, motorhomes and converted vehicles tucked away in side roads and industrial estates around the town of Glastonbury. Photograph: Jim Wileman/The Guardian View image in fullscreen Scene of suspected arson attack on one of the many caravans, motorhomes and converted vehicles tucked away in side roads and industrial estates around the town of Glastonbury. Photograph: Jim Wileman/The Guardian ‘Like a bomb had gone off’: suspected arson attack fuels Glastonbury unease Arrests after explosion and caravan fires heighten controversy over number of people living in vehicles J an Johnston was tucked up in the van she calls home when she was rocked by the explosion. “I heard this massive boom,” she said. “I came out and there was thick, black, billowing smoke. It was like a bomb had gone off.” It turned out not to be a bomb, but a suspected arson attack on one of the many caravans, motorhomes and converted vehicles tucked away in side roads and industrial estates around the town of Glastonbury in Somerset. The fire spread and three caravans a few metres from Johnston’s vehicle suffered damaged. The charred remains of clothes, books and tin cans can still be seen among the wreckage. For decades, people like Johnston, 71, have parked up in Glastonbury, famed for its alternative, spiritual, peaceful ways, and lived – for the most part – harmoniously, with “bricks and mortar” townsfolk. View image in fullscreen Jan Johnston: ‘I’m a bit of a pilgrim and it’s always been a mellow kind of place but I’m not staying any more.’ Photograph: Jim Wileman/The Guardian But the mood has changed, apparently because of a combination of a sharp increase in the numbers living at the roadside and a general decline in people’s willingness to rub along together. The motive for the attack is not known but it has made people uneasy. “I’ve been coming here for 47 years,” said Johnston, a teacher. “I’m a bit of a pilgrim and it’s always been a mellow kind of place but I’m not staying any more. I’m packing up. I’ve got family on the Isle of Wight and I’m heading there.” The attack happened on Saturday night. Fire crews from Glastonbury, Wells and Street attended. Luckily, nobody was in the caravans that were gutted. “It feels like a hate crime,” said John, 62, who lives in another caravan nearby. “If the wind had been blowing the other way, more vans could have gone up and people could have been killed. Horrendous.” Some people choose to live in caravans or vehicles but John said he was not one of them. “I was working in Europe as a carer. I had to come back when Brexit happened and haven’t been able to find a permanent place to live.” View image in fullscreen Hazel with her dog, Okami: ‘I’d like a flat or house, even a room but they just aren’t available.’ Photograph: Jim Wileman/The Guardian Hazel, who also lives in a nearby caravan, said she would prefer to live in a conventional home. “I have had trauma in my life and feel