The ongoing investigation into the kidnapping of the two 20-year old Cooper twins took an even more sinister turn last night when the Devonshire residence where they were held and physically assaulted in the early hours of Sunday morning was set ablaze.

Throughout the afternoon a forensics team, including American expert Roy Gilbert who was flown in specially yesterday lunchtime, was conducting an analysis of the site in the hope of uncovering clues which might provide leads as to the twins' whereabouts or the identities of the kidnappers.

However, Police reported that just after 10 p.m, two officers on patrol in the area of Crown Hill Lane, Devonshire heard a loud explosion before hurrying to the scene to see flames billowing out the windows of the bottom floor apartment, with the front door blown off and shards of glass strewn across the road.

The Fire Service arrived shortly after and succeeded in bringing the blaze under control - although the interior of the apartment was said to be severely damaged.

Police media relations spokesman Dwayne Caines was unable to say last night whether the forensic work had been completed, or whether the team had planned to return this morning to continue.

It is as yet unclear how major a setback this disturbing incident is to the Police investigation.

The Royal Gazette understands that blood spills have been found at the apartment while a glance inside the smeared window yesterday afternoon revealed a dingy storage room filled with construction equipment, including a large sledgehammer and a sharp seven-inch knife.

Jahmal and Jahmil Cooper were abducted early Sunday morning at the junction of Court Street and Elliot Street. Police raided the house on Monday, by which time the twins had been moved to a different location.

"It is difficult at this time to say anything for certain," Mr. Caines said last night.

"At the moment we have members of the Serious Crime Unit and the forensic support team here trying to make sense of what has taken place."

Meanwhile, despite a swathe of unsubstantiated rumours throughout the day yesterday, the search for the kidnapped 20 year-old twins continued with little or no progress.

The Royal Gazette was inundated with calls after the rapid spread of ultimately spurious rumours, including that the bodies of the twins had been found in a jeep submerged in the sea off St. David's.

Mr. Caines moved quickly to quash the rampant speculation, stating unequivocally that no bodies had in fact been uncovered and that Police were not yet in possession of any significant information which had lead to their recovery.

He also called for the immediate cessation of the rumour-mongering, citing the "immense strain" it was placing on the friends and family of the missing twins.

A spokesman for the family, Leroy Bean echoed the Police's sentiments, telling ZBM News the constant rumours were only "stirring up emotions" and causing a great deal of pain to the family.