Two Boys Arrested on Suspicion of Arson After Major Fire in Nottingham

Two boys, aged 12 and 14, have been arrested on suspicion of arson and criminal damage following a large fire that ripped through a building in Nottingham city centre late Monday night. Emergency services responded to the blaze at the Escobar Building on Market Street shortly after 10:00 p.m., cordoning off surrounding streets as flames engulfed the property.

A total of 12 fire engines and at least 48 firefighters were deployed to battle the inferno overnight. City Commander Superintendent Chris Pearson confirmed the arrests, noting that while the incident caused significant disruption, no serious injuries were reported. Pearson stated, "While we are in the early stages of the investigation to determine how the fire was caused, we have arrested two boys on suspicion of arson and criminal damage. These arrests were made very quickly after we were called to the incident."

Emergency crews evacuated roughly a dozen residents alongside three or four local businesses in the immediate vicinity as smoke billowed across the city center. Nottingham Express Transit turned off overhead power lines in the sector for safety, leading to partial closures of the local tram network between Theatre Royal and Market Square. Surrounding thoroughfares, including Upper and Lower Parliament Streets, were restricted or closed to general traffic.

A reduced fire service presence remains on the scene to monitor hot spots, and investigators are scheduled to launch a full forensic inquiry into the building's interior. Officials advised nearby residents to keep windows and doors closed while heavy morning commute delays continue throughout the downtown area.