Man charged with arson after fires reported in Hackney

A man has been charged with arson following several small fires in Hackney.

At 05:07hrs on Saturday, 15 August officers and the London Fire Brigade responded to multiple reports of a man starting fires in London Fields, near Lansdowne Drive, Hackney.

Police attended and a man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of arson, setting fires and possession of a Class A drug.

There were no reported injuries. The London Fire Brigade quickly extinguished around ten fires, all within London Fields.

Later that day, Isaac Shozi, 50 (12.05.1976) of Bodney Road, Hackney, was charged with arson.

Shozi has been remanded in custody to appear at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on Monday, 17 August at 10:00hrs.

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.”

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

Prompt reporting can help emergency services respond quickly and prevent fires from spreading and causing serious harm.