Cops eye underworld as arson hits childcare chain twice

A childcare centre in Sydney’s north-west has been targeted in an alleged arson attack, three days after another centre in the same chain was set ablaze, with police investigating whether the city’s underworld are behind the incidents.

Police say they are searching for more than one suspect following the blaze at Play to Learn Castle Hill, which was allegedly set alight about 1.30am on Monday.

Play to Learn Castle Hill was allegedly targeted by arsonists overnight.

NSW Police’s arson squad is set to take over the investigation in the coming days to probe possible links to another fire at Play to Learn Turramurra about 4am on Friday.

Both the Castle Hill and Turramurra fires were quickly extinguished, with only minor damage caused and no one injured.

A police source, not permitted to speak publicly, said one line of investigation was that the centres were targeted by organised crime.

There is no suggestion the directors, workers or any occupants of the centres themselves are involved in criminal activity – just that organised crime is a line of investigation for police.

The Castle Hill fire follows a blaze at another Play to Learn Early Learning Centre (pictured) in Sydney’s north-west last Friday.

Arson attacks have been a common tool of the underworld in conflicts over tobacco territory in Victoria in recent years, and in other underworld plots in NSW.

A Play to Learn statement said the business did not understand why it had been targeted in the two alleged attacks.

“I want to reassure every family that there are no internal concerns, no staff issues, and no grievances at Play to Learn. Our team is strong, united, and deeply committed to the wellbeing of our children,” Play to Learn director and founder Jade Luci said in a statement.

“I am heartbroken to learn of another senseless attack on our new Castle Hill centre.”

Forensic officer gather evidence at a vacant block behind Play to Learn Castle Hill.

With staff left flummoxed as to why two of their childcare centres could be targeted, Luci said she has “no reason to believe” someone within the Play to Learn community could be involved in the attacks.

Police say they are searching for more than one suspect in relation to the Castle Hill fire, with forensic teams seen gathering evidence at the crime scene and from a vacant block nearby.

The water sprinklers saved the brand-new Castle Hill centre from extensive damage, quickly containing the blaze at the Excelsior Avenue facility.

The alleged arsonists forced entry at the rear of the building, police said, while Nine’s Today reported that accelerant was used in the alleged attack.

“Detectives are there at the moment, and they are examining all aspects of this investigation and CCTV will form a big part of that,” Detective Superintendent Naomi Moore told a press conference on Monday.

Moore said the arson attempt was “very concerning”.

“It’s a residential street, and it troubles us a lot. We will be putting plenty of resources into it today, and I’m really hopeful that the arson squad, assisted by my detectives and the region, will get an outcome for this shortly.”

Speaking after the Turramurra blaze on Friday, when the foyer and some exterior parts of the building caught fire, Play to Learn’s head of operations said she had “absolutely no idea” why the centre had been targeted.

“I can’t even comprehend why someone would even do this to a childcare centre,” Jemma Quinlan told Nine’s Today.

A sign outside an Excelsior Avenue home protesting against new childcare centres.

“There’s been no threats. There’s been nothing.”

Play to Learn has been operating in Toukley on the Central Coast for 19 years, before recently expanding to Sydney with the two new centres. Both the Turramurra and Castle Hill facilities opened within recent months.

The building of new childcare centres on Excelsior Avenue has been a point of tension among Castle Hill locals, with several houses along the street displaying signage in protest of new construction.

One such sign reads “No More Childcare Centres on our Street!” and “Save Excelsior Avenue!”

Quinlan said that in Play to Learn’s nearly two decades of business, they had never seen anything like this.

“[We’re] a centre and a company that’s purely just trying to … serve the community, and be here for the children and families,” she said.

Detective Superintendent Naomi Moore suggested there could be patrols at the Toukley Play to Learn centre going forward.

“I can’t speak for what’s happening on the Central Coast, but I would say that there certainly would be some patrols of any other locations that might have a link to this.”

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