Two teenage boys have been arrested following an Alnwick arson attack that sent five fire appliances to Fenkle Street on Sunday night and left a building’s roof completely destroyed. Northumbria Police confirmed the arrests and said both boys remain in custody as of Monday morning.
The fire was reported just after 9pm on Sunday. Footage from the scene showed flames breaking from the top of a building understood to be vacant. Roads in Alnwick town centre were taped off and remained closed into Monday, with disruption expected to continue throughout the day.
Five appliances deployed as crews fought through the night
A spokesperson for Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service said the service received calls from members of the public at around 9pm and sent five fire appliances to a large building fire in Alnwick town centre. ‘Crews worked hard as part of a multi agency response throughout the night to make sure the fire did not spread to any adjoining buildings,’ the spokesperson said. ‘Crews remain on scene this morning damping down hotspots.’
Photographs by photographer Craig Connor showed the roof of the building completely destroyed. A large number of firefighters, fire engines and associated vehicles remained on Fenkle Street on Monday morning, with drones also deployed in the area as investigations continued.
Alnwick arson attack: what we know about the arrests
Northumbria Police confirmed they are treating the fire as arson. A force spokesperson said: ‘Just after 9pm yesterday (Sunday), we received a report of a fire ongoing at a premises on Fenkle Street in Alnwick. Emergency services colleagues attended at the time, and they currently remain on scene. At the current time, the fire is being treated as arson and last night, two teenage boys were arrested in connection with the incident. They currently remain in police custody.’
Further detail on one of those arrested has since emerged. According to SGM Community News, a 14-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of arson on Saturday afternoon has been released under investigation. That detail adds important context to the police operation, suggesting officers were already dealing with a related incident before Sunday night’s larger blaze broke out on Fenkle Street.
The Alnwick arson attack has disrupted the town centre at a time when roads would normally be busy with Monday morning activity. Police say the cordon is likely to remain in place while investigations continue and crews complete damping-down work.
How to pass on information
Northumbria Police are asking anyone with information to get in touch. You can send the force a direct message on social media, or use the live chat and report forms on their website. If neither of those options works for you, call 101 and quote reference number 26000431939.
The investigation into the Alnwick arson attack is ongoing. With two boys in custody and a third released under investigation, police have made clear this case is being treated as a priority.