Nearly 200 firefighters have been called to tackle a blaze at a Metropolitan Police station in east London.
Forest Gate police station has been evacuated, with nearby residents told to keep their doors and windows shut because of large amounts of smoke.
Pictures and video on social media show tall flames and smoke billowing from the building, in the London borough of Newham.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, London Fire Brigade and Scotland Yard have said, though police say they are not treating it as suspicious.
Officers said shortly before midnight on Wednesday that the fire had been contained.
Some 175 firefighters and 30 fire engines were called to the scene after the fire broke out shortly after 4.15pm. No injuries have been reported, but ambulances were in attendance.
In a video posted on X, Superintendent Dan Card spoke outside the smoking police station and thanked the firefighters for their swift response.
“I’m glad to report that the building was evacuated properly and no one has been reported as injured,” he said. “The fire has now been contained and the cause of the fire is not being treated as suspicious at this stage.
“I’d like to reassure the residents of Newham that our policing response in the area has not been affected and we are able to continue to do our job of keeping the people of Newham and London safe.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/06/metropolitan-police-station-fire-forest-gate-east-london/
