Old Bailey: London’s Central Criminal Court evacuated after fire

Around 1,500 people have been evacuated from London’s Old Bailey and surrounding buildings after the fire.

According to the Criminal Lawyers Association, at 10:30 p.m. Japan time, five separate explosions were heard behind the Central Criminal Court and black smoke was seen rising from the building.

A BBC reporter said all the lights in the courthouse flickered and went out before the fire alarm went off.

Firefighters said the Warwick Lane substation was involved.

The judge, barristers, jurors and court staff in black gowns and wigs stood outside the building waiting for updates, but were then told to return to the courtroom on Thursday.

The defendants were seen exiting through a side exit and getting into a waiting prison van, escorted by uniformed City of London Police officers.

The BBC said no casualties have been reported so far.

UK Power Networks said the fire had affected electricity supply in the area and it was working to restore it.

Judge Mark Lecraft KC, the Recorder of London and the Old Bailey’s most senior judge, also told the BBC that the fire started at a nearby electrical substation.

The BBC’s Nick Johnson said there was a humming noise in the courtroom before it went dark, followed by an alarm blaring from the sound system telling people to leave the building quickly.

There was a smell of smoke, similar to when a light bulb went out, he continued, adding that all proceedings at the Old Bailey were immediately postponed.

A worker at an adjacent building told the BBC he heard a rumbling sound before the black smoke appeared.

Sarah, a member of the public who was in the courtroom, told BBC Radio London: “The lights started flashing, then flashing again and then suddenly I heard ‘get out’.”

She said there was a “rush” but the public was evacuated from the building “within minutes”, adding: “I have never seen anything like this in my life.”

BBC Old Bailey producer Jeremy Britton said defendants who were evacuated from court were likely to be placed in a prison vehicle or other secure location if remanded pending trial. .

He said that in court, “security is as important as safety.”

The veteran court reporter was used to “dramatic scenes” at the Old Bailey, but said the evacuation was something he had “never seen in the 25 years I’ve been here as a journalist”. Stated.

Barristers and other court users were told by security officials that they would not be allowed to return to the Old Bailey until security checks were carried out.

The Criminal Lawyers Association (CBA), which represents barristers, later announced that it had sent jurors home and confirmed that the defendants who had been in custody had been “remanded back to prison”.

The report said there were five explosions from one of the two power plants that provide power to the court building “at the beginning of the trial or while the trial lawyers were in the judge’s chambers before taking their seats.” announced that he had woken up.

“Smoke was then visible from behind the court building,” the report said.

It added that barristers had been advised to appear in court on Thursday “unless otherwise instructed”.

London Fire Brigade confirmed that 1,500 people had been evacuated from the courthouse and surrounding buildings, and sent 25 firefighters to the scene.

The region advised people to avoid the area and said traffic could be affected.

UK Power Networks said: “Engineers were called to Paternoster Square in London at 11:10 GMT following reports of a fire which affected the power supply.”

“We will work to restore supplies as quickly and safely as possible.”