Police launch investigation into ‘suspicious’ fire at Islamic boarding school

Emergency crews were called to the Darul Uloom Islamic School in Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst, Greater London, last night.

Officers – who attended with London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service – said investigations were at an early stage but the fire was being treated as suspicious.

Two men were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and around 128 pupils and staff had to flee the building.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Officers from Bromley are investigating a fire at the Darul Uloom Islamic School in Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst.

“Police, London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service were called to the school at around 2350hrs on Saturday, 8 June. The fire was extinguished shortly after the arrival of London Fire Brigade.

“Two people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation; they were not taken to hospital.

“There was minor damage to the building. Enquiries continue into the circumstances of the fire. At this early stage it is being treated as suspicious.”

No arrests have been made.

The school said it did not want to comment yet and was “dealing with the parents”.

The £3,000-a-year boarding school was established in 1988 with the purpose of producing “great scholars and Huffaz (people who have memorised the Koran) to preserve and transmit the eternal message of Allah”.

Its website says: “The institution helps children to explore and develop their Islamic identity as a natural part of their mental, emotional and personal development.

“The school aims to prepare Muslim students to be good Muslims and responsible citizens; to embed in the student a sense of discipline; to enable them to grow up to become upright, respectable and worthy citizens of their respective countries.”

The school was built in 1974 and comprises 130 boarding rooms in addition to classrooms, dining hall, assembly hall, prayer hall, gym, playing fields on a 10-acre site. An extension was built in 2007 consisting of 18 classrooms, a science laboratory, a prayer hall and wudhu (ablution) facilities.

London Fire Brigade said there were no other injuries reported, adding that 21 firefighters were involved and four engines.

The brigade was called at 11.43pm and the fire was under control by 12.37am.