2 teenagers turn themselves in to Australian police in heritage building fire probe

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) — Two teenagers in Australia turned themselves in to police on Friday after a massive fire that engulfed a historical seven-story building in Sydney, police announced on Friday.

A larger group of young individuals was spotted fleeing the scene of the blaze that occurred in Sydney's central business district, where the heritage building was completely engulfed in flames, Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan of the New South Wales Police said in a video statement.

The two minors, both 13 years old, voluntarily went to separate police stations on Thursday night and are currently cooperating with the ongoing investigation on the incident, Dunstan said, without providing details on whether it was intentional.

Police are aware of the presence of three or four more young individuals and are urging them to come forward accompanied by their parents, he added, noting that authorities "believe the others to be of a similar age."

Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell of Fire and Rescue New South Wales said the fire was a once-in-a-decade incident.

Australian fire and rescue teams in New South Wales had engaged in a large-scale operation to combat the massive fire.

Authorities designated the fire in the Surry Hills area a "10th alarm," the most severe and urgent category.