Ten fire engines and 70 firefighters tackle suspected arson attack at prestigious London Oratory School

Firefighters are battling a fire at a renowned school in west London which police say is a suspected arson.

Ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters raced to the London Oratory School on Seagrave Road in Fulham after receiving a call at about 10am.

The fire brigade said an atrium is alight in a four-storey building at the state secondary school.

The Metropolitan Police later released a statement saying a boy had been arrested.

It said: “At around 11.15 hours a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of arson and taken into custody.

“A nearby shopping centre and some residential addresses have been evacuated as a precaution. Road closures are in place. Please avoid the area at this time.”

No injuries have been reported so far.

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Residents have been urged to keep windows closed to block out any smoke.

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said: “The brigade was called at 10.11am and is still at the scene.

“Fire crews from Fulham, Chelsea, Kensington, Wandsworth, Hammersmith, Clapham, Lambeth and Soho fire stations are in attendance.”

The Catholic school sits a short distance from the Chelsea FC stadium, Stamford Bridge. It admits boys aged seven to 18, and the sixth form accepts girls too.

The school’s alumni include actor Simon Callow, trade unionist Mick Whelan as well as the children of the former prime minister Sir Tony Blair, Harriet Harman and former deputy prime minister, Sir Nick Clegg.

The London Ambulance Service, which is on the scene, posted on X, formerly Twitter: “We have an incident response officer and hazardous area response team on standby at the fire in Fulham.

“Please avoid the area if possible and close your windows if you live nearby.”