English village hit by 3 apparent arson attacks

LONDON -- Three apparent arson attacks left a small English village in smoke Thursday as 27 fire crews rushed to put out the flames, CBS News' partner network Sky News reported.

It appeared the attacks were aimed at the local government in the village of Crowmarsh Gifford. According to British newspaper The Guardian, residents saw gas canisters being thrown into one of the council's offices, where 400 people work.

A 47-year-old man was arrested in connection with the fires. The Reuters news agency said there were no injuries.

One of the buildings burned was a funeral home, but a witness told the Oxford Mail, a local newspaper, that it could have been a case of mistaken identity on the part of the alleged arsonist, as the home was next to another council office.

The fires started in the middle of the night, and a damaged car was found in the foyer of one of the buildings hit, according to Sky.

A traditional thatched-roof country cottage also went up in flames on the outskirts of the village.

Crowmarsh Gifford is less than 15 miles from Oxford, home to the famous British university.