Hackney man charged with starting fires in London Fields

A MAN has been charged with arson after a number of fires were started in London Fields, near Lansdowne Road in Hackney.

The story began just after 5am on Saturday, 15th August when the emergency services received reports that a man was starting fires in London Fields – and rushed to the scene. Fortunately, the London Fire Brigade managed to extinguish the fires before they had a chance to spread.

The police arrested a man in his 50s on suspicion of arson, settings fires and possession of a Class A drug. He was later named as Isaac Shozi, 50, of Bodney Road, Hackney – and formally charged with arson. He was remanded in custody and was due to appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court today, 17th August.

The police were quick to remind the public of the dangers of starting fires under the current drought conditions. Detective Superintendent Liz Cumber, who leads policing in central east London, said, “No one can be in any doubt about the dangers of starting fires, particularly following the recent hot weather and heightened risk of wildfires. Even small fires can spread quickly and put people, buildings and open spaces at risk.

“We take all reports of this nature extremely seriously and work closely with partners, including the London Fire Brigade. We will investigate all incidents, identify those responsible and ensure appropriate action is taken against those who are reported to have endangered the public.”

The police stressed: Anyone who witnesses a fire, or behaviour that could pose a risk of a fire starting, should call 999 immediately.

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