Arson charges, Ipswich

Police have charged a man after a building was destroyed by fire in Ipswich overnight.

It will be alleged at 2.16am a man has attended the veranda of an unoccupied commercial building in East Street and started a fire.

The fire was observed shortly after and emergency crews attended.

With the assistance of Safe City footage police were able to trace a man and arrested him nearby at 2.36am.

The building has been destroyed however fire crews managed to prevent the fire engulfing a neighbouring building which sustained only minor damage.

A 39-year-old Ipswich man has been charged with one count of arson and is expected to appear at the Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday, March 26.