Man arrested after fire forces evacuation of Leeds General Infirmary in freezing weather
Several patients were wheeled outside still in their beds with temperatures around 1C
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man in Leeds has been arrested following a fire in Leeds General Infirmary (LGI). The fire meant that both patients and staff had to be evacuated from part of the hospital.
West Yorkshire Police said that officers were called to the hospital just before 6pm Thursday. A man, armed with a screwdriver, was “causing damage in a unit” and threatening to start a fire in the building.
The area was evacuated while officers attended the scene and put the man under arrest.
Social media showed large numbers of emergency service vehicles parked outside the emergency department of LGI. There were also reports of smoke in the hospital corridors.
Other pictures and videos showed patients being wheeled outside in their beds. Temperatures in the city were as low as 1C at the time.
West Yorkshire Police released a statement saying: "No one is believed to have been injured in the incident.” They added that: “the suspect remains in custody.”
A spokeswoman for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We can confirm that there was a small fire at Leeds General Infirmary this evening.”
She went on to add:”nobody was injured” and thanked staff and emergency services “who responded quickly to the incident.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments