A teenage boy has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a blaze at the atrium of the London Oratory School in west London.
A 16-year-old boy is in custody after he was arrested at 11.15am on Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police said.
Ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters were called to the prestigious Catholic school in Seagrave Road in Fulham at 10am.
The fire is now under control and no injuries have been reported, the London Fire Brigade said.
Images from the scene show smoke billowing down the street and a row of fire engines and ambulances leading up to the school gate.
Fire engines and police officers on Seagrave Road in Fulham, west London, as firefighters tackle a blaze at London Oratory Schoo— (James Manning/PA Wire)
The London Fire Brigade [LFB] said part of an atrium was damaged by fire in the four-storey building. Before adding no injuries were reported.
Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair’s sons are among the alumni of the prestigious catholic school, which has nearly 1,400 pupils between the ages of seven and 18.
Other alumni include Mission: Impossible star Hayley Atwell and members of post-punk outfit Television Personalities.
The school’s choir was also selected to contribute to the double-platinum award-winning soundtrack to The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Local MP for Fulham Greg Hands, posted on X: “Am concerned about this situation and am in touch with police.
“Lots of helicopter noise overhead this part of Fulham too.”
Have you been affected by this incident? Email barney.davis@independent.co.uk
Firefighters tackle a blaze at London Oratory School— (James Manning/PA Wire)
Police have said they evacuated a nearby shopping centre as a precaution alongside several homes.
The school lies in the shadow of Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea FC who have a home match against Crystal Palace later this evening.
Smoke seen in the west London street— (LFB)
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Police don’t know at this stage whether there are any injured persons inside the school.
“The cause of the fire is currently unknown and will be investigated.”
A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: “Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters have been called to a fire at a school on Seagrave Road in Fulham. An atrium is alight in a four storey building with basement.
“Fire crews from Fulham, Chelsea, Kensington, Wansdworth, Hammersmith, Clapham, Lambeth and Soho fire stations are in attendance. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.”
The London Ambulance Service, which is on the scene, urged residents to close their windows and confirmed it did not need to treat any patients at the scene.
A spokesperson said: “We sent a number of resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, an incident response officer, a medic in a fast response car and members of our hazardous area response team (HART).
“Our first medics arrived at the scene in less than three minutes.
“We did not treat any patients at the scene.”
