UK: Huge warehouse blaze sends black smoke pouring over east London

A huge blaze at a warehouse has sent black smoke pouring over east London but there are no reports of casualties and police ruled out a terrorist attack. Fifteen fire engines and 75 firefighters rushed to the scene of the blaze at an industrial estate in the Stratford area on Monday (November 12), the London fire brigade said. Witnesses said the fire broke out in an empty warehouse being demolished as part of preparations for the 2012 Olympics. Two ambulances raced to the scene but the London ambulance service said no casualties had been reported. News reports and witnesses spoke of an explosion, raising fears of a possible attack. The fire sent flames 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 metres) into the air and thick black smoke could be seen for miles. Police sealed off the area around the fire and evacuated staff from local businesses. Pupils from nearby Gainsborough Community primary school were also sent home. Everton Lewis, a relative of one school-boy, rushed to the premises to take him home. He said: "One of my neighbours, I bumped into her, and she said to me the school secretary's phoning all the parents, telling them that they've got to pick up the kids, today early, the kids will be leaving school early." In July 2005, suicide bombers killed 52 people on London's transport system and there have been several unsuccessful attacks since then, keeping Londoners' nerves on edge. A spokesman for Britain's Home Office (interior ministry) said the capital's police force had reported there were no reports of an explosion.

ITN Source | November 12, 2007

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