Old Bailey fire: Explosions heard with black smoke

It comes as eyewitnesses near the scene shared they saw black smoke pouring out of the court.

Power cuts in nearby buildings have also been reported as a number of firefighters are at the scene of this ongoing incident, which is understood to be at a building near to the Old Bailey.

Power went off inside courtrooms and smoke could be smelt near the area.

A London Fire Brigade said statement: "Firefighters are currently responding to reports of smoke coming from a building on Warwick Lane."

BBC reporter Nick Johnson who is at the Old Bailey, took to X, formally known as Twitter to share that there was "Black acrid smoke coming from rear of Central Criminal Court."

Black acrid smoke coming from rear of Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey - lights flickered inside before it was evacuated - firefighter says fire in section of building where electrical substation sits pic.twitter.com/jPvRyGYRya

— Nick Johnson (@NickJBBC) February 7, 2024

Adding that "lights flickered inside before it was evacuated - firefighter says fire in section of building where electrical substation sits."

Reports of fire at the Old Bailey

Another eyewitness, David Brown from The Times said  that a "series of explosions" could be heard from a building next to the Old Bailey, sharing that "many buildings seem to have suffered power cuts."

LFB issued a statement warning that traffic was likely to be impacted: "Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters are responding to an incident involving an electrical substation on Warwick Lane, near the rear of the Old Bailey. Traffic in the area is likely to be impacted as we respond. More information to follow."

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters are responding to an incident involving an electrical substation on Warwick Lane, near the rear of the Old Bailey.

Traffic in the area is likely to be impacted as we respond.

More information to follow. https://t.co/tYcugHj1dp

— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) February 7, 2024

Recorder of London Judge Mark Lucraft KC and the most senior judge at the Old Bailey told the BBC that the fire was in an electrical substation housed in a building adjoining the Old Bailey.

However, the LFB has not officially confirmed the cause of the fire at the time of writing. 

Video shows black smoke pouring from Old Bailey

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

The incident at the Old Bailey comes as the trail of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon continues.

The couple are at the court after being accused of of gross negligence manslaughter, causing the death of a child, child cruelty, concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice.

The couple’s baby Victoria was found dead in Brighton on March 1 last year.

They deny all the charges.