This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-london-14554768
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Fire at riot-hit Foot Locker shop in Brixton | Fire at riot-hit Foot Locker shop in Brixton |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Fire crews have tackled a blaze at a sportswear shop which had been attacked and set alight during the London riots. | |
Up to 40 firefighters were called to Foot Locker in Brixton Road, south London, on Tuesday night. | Up to 40 firefighters were called to Foot Locker in Brixton Road, south London, on Tuesday night. |
The fire in the basement of the three-storey building was under control just after 06:00 BST on Wednesday, London Fire Brigade (LFB) said. | The fire in the basement of the three-storey building was under control just after 06:00 BST on Wednesday, London Fire Brigade (LFB) said. |
The store was among several other shops in the area which were targeted by rioters overnight on 7 August. | The store was among several other shops in the area which were targeted by rioters overnight on 7 August. |
The cause of the latest fire is not yet known and an investigation is underway, but arson has not been officially ruled out. | |
Hundreds of looters set the Foot Locker store on fire and other shops, including Marks and Spencer, Body Shop, Currys, Halfords, phone shops and businesses in the area were attacked hours after a local music festival ended. | |
'No speculating' | |
Smoke has continued to pour out of the shop and LFB said officers were still dealing with pockets of fire in the basement. | |
The sportswear shop remains boarded up since it was attacked but refurbishment work had begun in some offices above it. | The sportswear shop remains boarded up since it was attacked but refurbishment work had begun in some offices above it. |
Barry Newstead, station manager at Richmond Fire Station, said he could not "speculate" on what caused the fire. | |
He said: "The building was boarded up following the riots and at this time there is no reason to suspect that it's a reignition by any chance." | |
Dappo Williams, who works for a charity whose office is located above Foot Locker, said they were hoping to move back soon but now that would be delayed. | Dappo Williams, who works for a charity whose office is located above Foot Locker, said they were hoping to move back soon but now that would be delayed. |
"We were just coming here to do the final cleaning, only to find out there's been a fire here again." | "We were just coming here to do the final cleaning, only to find out there's been a fire here again." |
He added that the police told him the premises would be closed to the public until the forensic examination was complete. | He added that the police told him the premises would be closed to the public until the forensic examination was complete. |
One lane has opened up for traffic in Atlantic Road, which was earlier closed between Brixton Road and Coldharbour Lane because of the fire. The Tube station remains shut. |