Aqua Blue Sport bus destroyed in Spanish arson attack

A suspected arson attack destroyed the tour bus of the Aqua Blue Sport cycling team at the Vuelta a Espana in the southern Spanish city of Almeria, the Irish-based outfit said on Thursday.

New digs for Aqua Blue Sport at the Vuelta a España. Source: Getty

A mattress had been placed underneath the bus in the early hours of Thursday and set alight, it said.

"Our team bus has been completely damaged in a cowardly arson attack over night. No one was injured. Police have arrested a suspect," said a statement on the team's Twitter account, showing images of the burned vehicle.

The team were competing in their first Grand Tour.

They have vowed to continue racing and posted a picture of their riders on a different bus on their way to stage 12, which begins in Motril later on Thursday, with the message: "Nothing is going to stop us starting today's La Vuelta stage. Thank you for all the support."

Our home on the road has been destroyed. If you know of a new bus for us to buy, please get in touch at [e-mail] pic.twitter.com/cXRzj7y0tW — Aqua Blue Sport (@AquaBlueSport) August 31, 2017

A statement from Spain's national police force said they had arrested a 55-year-old man who had allegedly caused four fires in Almeria, in the province of Andalusia.