Teenager arrested over blaze at London Oratory School
No injuries have been reported, but part of an atrium at the prestigious school was damaged by fire.
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Your support makes all the difference.A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire at a prestigious 160-year-old Catholic school in west London.
Ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters were called to the London Oratory School, which admits for boys aged seven to 18 and girls aged 16 to 18, on Seagrave Road in Fulham at 10am on Wednesday.
The school’s alumni include actor Simon Callow, trade unionist Mick Whelan, as well as the children of the former prime minister Sir Tony Blair, Harriet Harman and former deputy prime minister, Sir Nick Clegg.
The fire is now under control and no injuries have been reported, but part of an atrium in the four-storey building was damaged by fire, the London Fire Brigade said.
The Metropolitan Police said the teenager was arrested at around 11.15am and remains in custody.
A nearby shopping centre and some residential addresses were evacuated as a precaution, and residents were urged to keep their windows closed.
A Met spokesperson said: “The cause of the fire is under investigation.
“At around 11:15am a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of arson and taken into custody.
“A nearby shopping centre and some residential addresses have been evacuated as a precaution.
“Road closures are in place. Please avoid the area at this time.”
A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said: “The brigade was called at 10.11am and is still at the scene.
“Fire crews from Fulham, Chelsea, Kensington, Wandsworth, Hammersmith, Clapham, Lambeth and Soho fire stations were in attendance.
“The cause of the fire is under joint investigation by the Brigade and the Met Police.”
A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said: “We sent a number of resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, an incident response officer, a medic in a fast response car and members of our hazardous area response team (HART).
“Our first medics arrived at the scene in less than three minutes.
“We did not treat any patients at the scene.”
Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands said he was “concerned” by the incident, and was in touch with the police.