Police say fire at former White Elephant cinema was started deliberately

The White Elephant Cinema, which closed in the 1960s, went up in flames on Tuesday evening.

Fire at former Glasgow White Elephant Cinema was started deliberately, say police STV News

A fire at a former cinema in Glasgow is being treated as deliberate.

Police are now investigating the blaze after nine fire engines and over 40 firefighters were sent to the scene of the former White Elephant Cinema on Tuesday.

The fire, on Kilmarnock Road in the Shawlands area of the city, started around 7pm.

Officers now say they are treating the fire as “wilful” and appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

There were no reports of any casualties.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Around 7.15pm on Tuesday, July 11 2023, we received a report of a fire at a premises on Kilmarnock Road, Glasgow.

“The fire is being treated as wilful and inquiries are ongoing.”

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said they were called to reports of a fire within a derelict building on Kilmarnock Road, Shawlands at 6.59pm on Tuesday.

An SFRS spokesman said: “Operations control mobilised a total of nine fire appliances to tackle and contain the fire.”

One appliance remained at the scene on Wednesday morning to reinspect the building for any hotspots but left at about 9.15am.

The cinema closed in 1960 and was redesigned as shops.

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