'Explosions' at Old Bailey as smoke billows from windows & fire crews scramble to the scene | O8DI7T2 | 2024-02-11 06:08:01
Defendants have been walked out of the felony court and right into a Serco van an hour af
SMOKE billowed from home windows behind the Previous Bailey this morning after a "collection of explosions" went on for 10 minutes.
Defendants have been walked out of the felony court and right into a Serco van an hour after the hearth started in central London shortly earlier than 11am.
The Old Bailey was evacuated and power cuts have been reported in close by buildings.
Trials have been derailed after lights went off in the courtroom rooms following a fireplace, suspected to be an electrical fault.
Warwick Lane smelt of heavy smoke as firefighters raced to the scene.
Lights started flickering at round 10.40am for about half a minute before they all went out in the building, leaving counsel, defendants, judges and press in darkness.
A tannoy system then advised everybody to right away evacuate because of a fireplace alarm and out of doors safety shouted for everybody to get away from the constructing.
By 12.30pm defendants together with Mark Gordon have been walked out of the Previous Bailey and right into a Serco van to be driven to Belmarsh.
He was making an attempt to cowl his face as he walked out.
Often defendants are pushed out of a tunnel as an alternative of being walked out onto the road.
London Hearth Brigade stated in a press release: "Firefighters are at present responding to stories of smoke coming from a constructing on Warwick Lane."
Recorder of London Decide Mark Lucraft, who is presiding over Constance Marten and Mark Gordon's trial, advised The Solar he believes the substation has gone.
He stated: "What most of us heard was a loud bang and a few black billowing smoke.
"Energy went off in the building. As far as I'm conscious it's the sub station located within the Previous Bailey building.
"We're waiting for UK power to return and see before the hearth brigade can go in. They have contained it."
Decide Lucraft added it's unclear what is occurring to the defendants in the meanwhile however there might be preparations in place.
A witness wrote on X: "Collection of explosions heard from constructing next to Previous Bailey for about 10 minutes before smoke emerges.
"Many buildings appear to have suffered power cuts."
A& BBC& journalist on the scene tweeted: "Black acrid smoke coming from rear of Central Legal Courtroom, Previous Bailey – lights flickered inside earlier than it was evacuated – firefighter says hearth in section of constructing where electrical substation sits."
T/Chief Inspector Tom Fisher, Metropolis of London Police, stated: "We have been made aware of an incident at the Previous Bailey at around 11am.
"Warwick Lane is at present closed and we're working with London Hearth Brigade who are in attendance.
"There isn't a indication at this stage that this is something aside from an incident involving an electrical sub station.
"London Hearth Brigade reported that around 1,500 individuals have been evacuated from the Previous Bailey and surrounding area."
A UK Power Networks spokesperson stated: "UK Power Networks engineers have been referred to as to Paternoster Square in London at 11.10am after a fireplace was reported which has affected power supplies.
"We'll work to restore provides as shortly as is safely attainable."
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