Old Bailey remains closed after accidental fire

The Old Bailey will remain closed for the rest of the week after an "accidental" fire broke out.

On Wednesday morning, 1,500 people had to be evacuated from the building and surrounding properties.

Recorder of London, Judge Mark Lucraft KC, said there was still no power in the building on Thursday due to the fire, in an electricity substation.

UK Power Networks was working on the substation and new kit needed to be installed, he said.

It is hoped the Old Bailey, which houses 18 courtrooms, will reopen on Monday, Judge Lucraft added.

A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the blaze was being treated as accidental due to an electrical fault.

• Old Bailey court evacuated after fire breaks out

A member of security staff raised the alarm after hearing a loud explosion. The lights went out, plunging some windowless courtrooms into complete darkness, as black smoke was seen billowing from the rear of the building.

Crowds of barristers in black gowns and wigs could be seen gathered outside as people left the building, in Warwick Lane, central London.

Two people had to be rescued from lifts, and defendants were seen being escorted by police out of a side exit and into prison vans.

The fire was caused by an electrical fault, the fire service said

The Old Bailey - formally known as the Central Criminal Court - is the world's most famous criminal court. It has high levels of security as it hears major criminal cases, including murder and terrorism trials.

In the past, it has been identified as a terror target and was badly damaged in an IRA car bomb attack in 1973.

An LFB spokesman said: "We can confirm that the fire was within the Old Bailey office block.

"There was a security officer that initially described hearing an explosion from an electricity substation on the ground floor and that was the first of seven emergency calls to London Fire Brigade.

"Four fire engines were involved in tackling the fire, with 1,500 people evacuated."

The fire was found to have burnt itself out inside the substation, LFB said

He said firefighters had to wait for UK Power Networks before they could safely enter the area.

He added: "Following an assessment, the fire was found to have burnt itself out within the substation.

"An electrical event has taken place associated with the substation. There was nothing suspicious about the fire."

There were no reported casualties

Cases that had been due to be heard on Thursday were put off.

They included the trial of Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon, who are accused of the manslaughter of their baby daughter, and the televised sentencing of three people for the "sadistic" murder of Shakira Spencer.

Urgent bail hearings were moved to Southwark Crown Court, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said.

A spokesperson for HM Courts and Tribunals Service said: "We're grateful to the London Fire Brigade for their quick response and to all those who ensured the swift and safe evacuation of the court yesterday."

A spokesman for UK Power Networks said it would be investigating the electrical fault in its substation.

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