by setting it on fire.

The blaze, at 5.40 a.m yesterday, gutted the back of the Lancia hatchback and swept through the inside.

A man was seen running away as the fire broke out on Douglas Drive, Smith's Parish.

A fire truck with six firefighters arrived to tackle the blaze.

Police spokesman Sgt. John Dale said the incident was "definitely malicious''. He would not name the officer, but said he is Bermudian.

"We can't say exactly, but it is our strong belief that it happened because he is a Police officer.'' Det. Insp. Carlton Adams is heading a team of detectives hunting for the arsonist. House-to-house enquries have had a pleasing response.

He asked anyone with information to call investigating officers on 299 4315 or the confidential Police code-a-phone on 295-1140.

Police are hunting three youths who attacked a 16-year-old boy near White and Sons supermarket in Warwick on Friday night.

The teenager had treatment to bruises on his lip, head and hands.

Police said the incident was not being treated as a gang assault. The three attackers were school students, like their victim, and about the same age as him.

Detectives have names of suspects and are following up the case.

And Police are also investigating an assault at the Spinning Wheel nightclub on Court Street early on Saturday morning, in which a man suffered cuts to his lip and nose.