Fire at riot-hit Foot Locker shop in Brixton

http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-london-14554768

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Fire crews have been tackling a blaze at a sportswear shop which was 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.

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.

Hundreds of looters set the Foot Locker store on fire and other shops, including Marks & Spencer, Body Shop, Currys, Halfords, phone shops and businesses in the area were attacked hours after a local music festival ended.

LFB said officers were still dealing with pockets of fire in the basement. The cause of the latest fire is not yet known.

Road closed

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 cannot "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 re-ignition 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.

"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.

Atlantic Road remains closed between Brixton Road and Coldharbour Lane because of the fire and the Tube station also remains shut.