Tory MP's office hit by suspected arson attack on Christmas Eve

25 December 2023 , 11:43

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Police are investigating a suspected arson attack at the constituency office of Conservative MP Mike Freer

Conservative MP Mike Freer's constituency office was hit by a suspected arson attack on Christmas Eve.

Police are investigating the fire in a shed at the Tory MP's office in North Finchley, London, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said. Firefighters were called to the blaze at around 7pm last night, with residents reporting the road was closed for several hours.

Mr Freer has been MP for Finchley and Golders Green since 2010 and is parliamentary under-secretary at the Ministry of Justice. His constituency was created in 1997, formed partly out of Margaret Thatcher's old Finchley seat.

He said the response from police and the fire brigade was "excellent" and that they were "on site in minutes". The rear of the building has been damaged but no one was hurt as the office was empty at the time.

Conservative MP Mike Freer's office was hit by a fire on Christmas Eve

Mr Freer said: "The police are still investigating and checking out CCTV footage. Until the suspects are caught we won't know the motivation. Luckily no-one was in the office at the time."

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A Met Police spokesman said: "An investigation is under way after a fire in a shed at the constituency office of Mike Freer MP in North Finchley. We were called at 19:06hrs on Sunday, 24 December by the London Fire Brigade following a fire at the office in Ballards Lane, N3.

"There were no reports of any injuries and the fire was put out. The cause of the fire is under investigation as it is believed it may have been started deliberately. Further enquiries will take place."

No arrests have been made. Any witnesses are asked to call 101 quoting CAD 4971/24Dec.

Tory chairman Richard Holden said the suspected arson attack was "utterly appalling". "Thank goodness no-one was injured and glad I was able to speak to one of the long-standing staff members today," he posted on Twitter.

Mr Freer has previously spoken about how he and his staff now wear stab vests and carry mobile panic alarms, following the murder of Southend West MP Sir David Amess in 2021.

Lizzy Buchan