20/06/2007

Sheffield nightclub fire 'may have been arson'

Police investigating the fire at the Gatecrasher One club in Sheffield have said that it may have been started deliberately.

The fire broke out on Monday evening at the club in Arundel Street and caused the partial collapse of the venue.

Several members of staff were inside the club at the time, but they all managed to escape unharmed.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Williams said that he wanted to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious near the club between 4pm and 5pm on June 18 when the fire was first spotted.

He said that police were treating the fire as suspicious "as a matter of course" until the cause was established.

Fire investigators and scientists from the Forensic Science Service will carry out the investigation alongside detectives from Sheffield.

The investigation is due to begin once demolition of part of the building has been completed and the site has been made safe. Police said that this may take several days.

Speaking on Tuesday, Simon Raine, Managing Director of Gatecrasher, said that they would be looking to rebuild the club as quickly as possible.

(KMcA/JM)


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