Detectives from West Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses after a fire at Leeds General Infirmary yesterday.
Officers were called to the hospital at about 17.54 to reports a man was causing damage to a unit and making threats towards hospital staff and patients.
Staff evacuated the area, and a 43-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
Patients, some of whom were seriously ill, had to be wheeled out of the hospital to safety.
Lisa, who was in the hospital at the time of the evacuation, told The Sun Online:
“I was in A&E and we could see and smell black smoke. Then the fire alarm went off.
“We were evacuated and then taken back into a different unit.”
One witness also told the Yorkshire Evening Post that smoke had filled the corridors in several areas of the hospital.
He said: “I heard that the smoke was filling up the corridors from A&E up to ICU and Theatres (one level up).”
No one was injured in the fire.
The 43-year-old man remains in police custody at this time.
Detective Inspector James Entwistle of Leeds CID said:
‘This was a very serious incident which caused significant damage to the hospital.
‘Luckily, no one was injured, and everyone in the hospital was safely accounted for.
‘I would like to appeal to anyone who was impacted by the fire in either the A&E or X-Ray department between 5 and 6pm to come forward with any information to assist our enquiries’
Speaking at the time of the incident, a spokesperson for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said:
“We can confirm that there was a small fire at Leeds General Infirmary this evening.
“The fire was extinguished quickly and nobody was injured.
“Staff and patients were evacuated from the building for a short period and police investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting log 1301 of 21 January.
Information can also be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
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