Police arrest man in connection with Luton Airport fire

The blaze at the airport’s multistorey Terminal Car Park 2 on October 10 was declared a major incident.

PA Media

23rd Oct 2023

Posted in

Crime

A man has been arrested in connection with a massive fire that caused a car park at Luton Airport to collapse.

Bedfordshire Police said the man, in his 30s, was detained as a precautionary measure and investigations so far suggest the blaze started accidentally due to a vehicle fault.

A force spokesman said: “Police arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of criminal damage in connection to their investigation into a significant fire in a car park at London Luton Airport.

“We are carrying out a thorough and diligent investigation into all potential lines of inquiry, as should be expected after such a major event.

“The man has been released on bail while our inquiries continue.”

The force said on Monday that the man had been arrested several days after the fire and officers believe the blaze started when a diesel car, possibly a Range Rover, suffered an electrical fault or leaking fuel line.

The fire at the airport’s multistorey Terminal Car Park 2 on October 10 was declared a major incident and more than 100 firefighters were deployed to bring the blaze under control.

The flames spread across multiple floors of the car park and caused a partial collapse of the structure.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service previously said as many as 1,500 cars were inside when the blaze broke out and it is unlikely any will be salvageable.