Teenager Denies Setting Fire to London Oratory School


Blaze badly damaged the atrium of a four storey building

Specialist equipment was deployed at the scene on Seagrave Road
Specialist equipment was deployed at the scene on Seagrave Road. Picture: London Fire Brigade

December 29, 2023

A 16-year-old boy has appeared at Highbury Youth Court accused of setting fire to the London Oratory School in Fulham.

The youth, who is from the London Borough of Wandsworth but cannot be named due to his age, also allegedly assaulted a police officer after his arrest. He denied the charges at a hearing this Friday (29 December).

The Fire Brigade received the first call about the fire at 10.11am on Wednesday (27 December) and ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters attended.

Fire crews from Fulham, Chelsea, Kensington, Wandsworth, Hammersmith, Clapham, Lambeth and Soho fire stations were sent.

There is a swimming pool was under construction at the school and construction workers were evacuated from the building as well as some local residents from their homes.

Firefighters had the incident under control by 11.47am but not before part of the atrium in a four storey building on Seagrave Road was damaged. No injuries were reported.

The police identified the suspect in a street nearby at around 11.30am and he was taken to a nearby police station.

He has been bailed to remain in his home and must only go outside in the company of one of his immediate family members. He was also banned from entering the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.


Local residents had to be evacuated from their homes. Picture: London Fire Brigade

His case will be heard at Wimbledon Youth Court on 23 January.

 

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