LONDON: Multiple blasts rocked the vicinity of the Old Bailey building, the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, in central London on Wednesday, leading to the evacuation of the historic courthouse and disruption of power supply in the area.
According to media reports, a series of explosions were heard originating from a building adjacent to the Old Bailey, lasting for approximately 10 minutes before black smoke began to billow from the structure. The incident resulted in a power outage affecting various buildings in the vicinity, including the court itself.
Series of explosions heard from building next to Old Bailey for about 10 minutes before smoke emerges. Many buildings seem to have suffered power cuts. pic.twitter.com/GPnCs9cWAJ
— David Brown (@DavidhBrown) February 7, 2024
Amid the chaos, courtrooms inside the Old Bailey lost electricity, prompting authorities to evacuate the premises. Among the ongoing proceedings disrupted by the power outage is the trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon, who stand accused of the killing of their own baby.
Fire fighters are on the scene at the Old Bailey in London after a series of explosions heard, initial reports indicate it may be caused by an electrical fault pic.twitter.com/3qPZ6XTIHH
— Huginn and Muninn Intelligence (@HM_Int3lligence) February 7, 2024
Emergency services quickly responded to the scene, with at least five fire engines deployed to address the situation. Nick Johnson, a journalist from the BBC, reported on social media that black acrid smoke was observed emanating from the rear of the Central Criminal Court before the evacuation took place. Johnson noted that the fire appeared to be centered in a section of the building housing an electrical substation.
A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman urged the public to avoid the area surrounding Warwick Lane, where the incident occurred, as firefighters worked to contain the situation.
