The Old Bailey in central London was evacuated after a fire broke out at an electrical substation nearby. About 1500 people were evacuated from the court and surrounding buildings.
The Old Bailey, Central Criminal Court in London, was evacuated following a fire incident at an electrical substation nearby. Approximately 1500 individuals were cleared out from the court and its surroundings. The fire, which caused explosions and black smoke, led to emergency repairs and the closure of the court for the day. Firefighters swiftly responded to the scene, ensuring the safety of all present.
The evacuation at the Old Bailey, a historic court building, disrupted ongoing trials, including that of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon. The fire, deemed accidental, brought about a scene where barristers and defendants had to be escorted away from the building. Judge Mark Lucraft KC, the senior judge at the Old Bailey, provided updates to the media regarding the situation.
Efforts to control the fire and repair the damaged electrical substation are underway. The closure of the Old Bailey for the week postponed several court cases. Despite the magnitude of the incident, no injuries were reported, and the fire was contained.
As the events unfolded, eyewitnesses described seeing black smoke billowing from the court premises. The disruption caused power cuts in nearby buildings as authorities worked to resolve the situation. The Old Bailey, renowned for its legal significance, has faced temporary closure due to this unforeseen fire incident.
About 1500 people are evacuated from the court and surrounding buildings, the fire service says.
Central criminal court cleared after fire at electrical substation near court buildings, say fire services.
Firefighters called out to incident involving electrical substation on Warwick Lane near rear of the historic court building.
About 25 firefighters responded to an incident near the rear of the Central Criminal Court, better known as the Old Bailey, the fire brigade said.
The fire broke out at an electrical substation in an adjoining building.
The Old Bailey, Central Criminal Court, was evacuated following reports of explosions and a fire.
Reports and eye witness have shared that they have seen black smoke pouring out of the Old Bailey in London.
The Old Bailey has been closed for emergency repairs after an electrical fire led to 1,500 people having to evacuate. Explosions were heard near the Old ...
The fire was brought under control in the afternoon and there are no reports of injuries, the London Fire Brigade said, after about 25 firefighters had ...
It comes as eyewitnesses near the scene shared they saw black smoke pouring out of the court. Power cuts in nearby buildings have also been reported as a ...
Judge Mark Lucraft KC, the most senior judge at the Old Bailey, told the BBC the fire had broken out at an electrical substation housed in an adjoining building ...
Dozens of barristers in their black gowns and wigs lined the street as four fire engines arrived. The Argus: Defendants were escorted away from the court ...
A BBC reporter said all the lights flickered inside the courthouse and went out before a fire alarm went off. Juries were sent home and defendants on remand ...
Repairs are being carried out after the ground floor substation, on Warwick Lane, near the rear of the court buildings, was partly damaged in the incident.
The famous court had to be evacuated on Wednesday because of a fire in an electricity substation.
Cases including the ongoing trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have been postponed after the blaze at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday.
A fire which broke out inside the Old Bailey is not being treated as suspicious despite the building's status as a high-value terrorism target.