Police make arrest in connection with Luton Airport fire
Bedfordshire Police stated that the individual was apprehended as a precautionary measure. Initial findings from the investigations indicate that the fire appears to have been caused accidentally by a vehicle malfunction.
A man in his thirties has been apprehended in connection with a substantial fire that led to the collapse of a car park at Luton Airport.
According to Bedfordshire Police, the arrest was made as a precautionary measure. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire originated accidentally due to a vehicle malfunction.
A spokesperson for the force stated, “Police apprehended a man in his thirties on suspicion of criminal damage in relation to their inquiry into a significant fire in a car park at London Luton Airport. We are conducting a comprehensive and meticulous investigation into all potential leads, as is customary following such a major incident. The man has been released on bail while our inquiries progress.”
It is understood that the arrest occurred several days after the fire. Authorities believe the blaze began when a diesel car, possibly a Range Rover, experienced an electrical fault or a leaking fuel line.
The fire, which occurred on October 10 in the multistorey Terminal Car Park 2, was declared a major incident. Over 100 firefighters were dispatched to gain control over the blaze. The flames extended across multiple levels of the car park, resulting in a partial structural collapse.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service previously indicated that as many as 1,500 cars were inside when the fire broke out, and it is unlikely that any of them will be recoverable.
The airport stated that it had furnished the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) with the registration details of 1,405 vehicles. Additionally, in collaboration with its parking provider APCOA, it had addressed nearly 16,500 customer inquiries since the fire incident.
The structure remains fundamentally unsafe and the adverse weather over the last few days hasn’t helped LUTON AIRPORT SPOKESMAN
A spokesperson from London Luton Airport provided an update on the current state of the car park, stating, “After extensive collaboration with our engineers, experts, and insurers, we are making steady progress towards a final decision regarding the car park and the vehicles it houses.”
They continued, “Working closely with our structural engineers, we have formulated plans to relocate approximately 100 cars from the top deck of the car park in order to stabilise the structure. These cars will be securely stored in a designated area. We will then communicate with customers and collaborate with insurers to outline the recovery process for these vehicles. Only after this step will we be able to assess the condition of these cars.”
The spokesperson emphasised, “As for all other vehicles within the car park, the evaluation remains largely consistent. Presently, no cars can be accessed or extracted from the car park. The structure continues to pose significant safety risks, and the recent adverse weather conditions have added to the challenges.”
