Cop hurt amid New Cross explosion and fire, with man arrested over alleged arson

A police officer has suffered burn injuries at the scene of a fire that badly damaged a flat.

An explosion was heard after police entered the building in New Cross at about 1.30pm, the Met said.

Most of the third-floor flat on Batavia Mews, pictured, has been destroyed, according to the London Fire Brigade.

A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of committing arson with intent to endanger life and causing grievous bodily harm.

The police officer’s injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Police were originally called at 11.57am on Friday, 25 June, to reports of a stabbing on nearby Achilles Street, on the south side of Fordham Park.

Officers attended the scene where a 41-year-old man was found suffering from stab wounds. He was taken to hospital, where his condition has been assessed as not life-threatening.

A crime scene was put in place and enquiries commenced – which led officers to an address about 200 yards away in Batavia Mews, just north of the New Cross one-way system.

At about 1.32pm, as officers approached an address in Batavia Mews, there was an explosion inside the premises resulting in a fire.

London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade were called to the scene. It was at this stage that the police officer suffered burn injuries and was then rushed to hospital. The 40-year-old man was arrested at the address in Batavia Mews on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. He was taken to hospital as a precaution.

A statement from the Met said: “At this early stage, the incident is not thought to be terror related and there is no evidence of drugs manufacture at the premises.”

Enquiries continue to establish the circumstances.

About 25 firefighters attended the scene and the fire was under control by 3.30pm. The cause of the blaze is under investigation by police and the London Fire Brigade.