Man arrested after Luton Airport fire which saw 1,500 cars destroyed

A man has been arrested in connection with a massive fire that ripped through a multi-storey car park at Luton Airport.

The blaze, which broke out on the evening of October 10, destroyed 1,500 vehicles and caused the structure to partially collapse, with the debris of some cars piled up within its blackened storeys. Four firefighters and a member of airport staff were also taken to hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation.

More than 15 crews from Bedfordshire Fire Service tackled the blaze, which began in Terminal Car Park 2. A man aged in his 30s has since been questioned on suspicion of criminal damage, and released on bail while enquiries continue.

It is understood that the man was arrested as a precaution, and the police investigation so far suggests the fire started accidentally due to a vehicle fault. Previously, the fire service confirmed that the vehicle involved was a diesel car.

Burned out cars in a charred section of the car park (AFP via Getty Images)

In a statement, Bedfordshire Police said: "Police last week arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of criminal damage in connection to their investigation into a significant fire in a car park at London Luton Airport on Tuesday (10 October).

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"We are carrying out a thorough and diligent investigation into all potential lines of enquiry, as should be expected after such a major event. The man has been released on bail while our enquiries continue." As many as 1,500 cars were inside the car park when the fire broke out, and it is "unlikely any will be salvageable."

As many as 1,500 cars were inside the car park when the fire broke out (PA)

A London Luton Airport spokesperson previously said: "We recognise this has been an extremely distressing time for all concerned and we would like to thank our customers for their ongoing patience and understanding while we work through the many complexities following this incident.

"Our team have been tirelessly working around the clock to keep customers informed of developments. Given the scale of the damage, it is unlikely that any vehicles in the car park will be salvageable. However, this is still in the process of being assessed.

"We are also working with the Association of British Insurers on behalf of the many insurance companies to establish whether it will be possible to safely retrieve any personal possessions and, if so, how this process may work."