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Inverness agency SJ Travel Centre finds new premises after gangland-style arson attack

High street
Gary Noakes
11 March 2025

An Inverness agency has found temporary premises after it and five neighbouring shops were destroyed in a shocking arson attack.

SJ Travel after the fire

The SJ Travel Centre team outside the fire-ravaged retail park (Credit: SJ Travel)

It is thought the agency, SJ Travel Centre, located on Fairways Retail Park in the Scottish city, was not the target of the attack early on Sunday morning, when a car reversed into a nearby shop and was set alight. 

Owner Julia MacLeay said the incident had alarmed staff and customers: “This is Inverness, not London or New York, that’s what’s more shocking,” she said, adding the car used had a boot “full of petrol” that was deliberately ignited. 

The agency has been given a temporary office for it and sister tour operator brand Spirit Journeys Worldwide.

“It’s not ideal, but it’s somewhere we can set up and meet customers and take calls,” MacLeay said.