11/06/2004

Suspect bailed over Britart burglary

A man has been arrested and subsequently bailed on suspicion of burglary at at a warehouse complex in east London that was destroyed in a blaze.

The massive fire destroyed over 100 artworks from Charles Saatchi's collection of contemporary 'Britart'.

The 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary on Monday night, and has since been released on bail.

The fire at an industrial estate in Argall Avenue in Leyton gutted a storage warehouse used by specialist firm Momart to store the art collection. The blaze is thought to have taken hold in the single storey building at around 3.40am on May 24.

Among the items believed to have been lost in the fire are the embroidered tent by Tracey Emin, and many other valuable works by British artists.

At the height of the blaze, which destroyed 38 industrial units, around 500 people were evacuated from the area surrounding the huge fire over fears that overheating gas cylinders at a car repair shop could explode.

(gmcg)

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