Fire breaks out at Broadmoor psychiatric hospital site

A fire has broken out at the old Broadmoor psychiatric hospital site where some of Britain's most dangerous criminals have been held.

Footage of the scene shows huge flames spending plumes of black smoke into the sky.

The building has a history of holding some of the country's most notorious criminals, including Ronnie Kray, the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and Charles Bronson.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed on X that they are attending a fire at a derelict building on the old Broadmoor Hospital site.

A spokesperson said: “The current hospital site is not affected. Please stay clear of the area but if you are nearby, please keep windows and doors closed. More information to follow.”

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said they were attending the scene and assisting with any road closures.

They said: "At this stage there is no impact to the wider road network."

Broadmoor currently holds Ian Ball - who tried to kidnap Princess Anne in 1974 - and Michael Adebowale - one of the terrorists convicted of killing Lee Rigby.

The fire appears to be in an old residential block at the complex.

The Victorian buildings are not used as part of the hospital and are reported to have been part of a redevelopment row to turn the Grade II heritage buildings into a hotel.

The new Broadmoor Hospital is next door to the Victorian buildings and opened in 2019, as the older parts of the site were no longer suitable.

The hospital is one of three high secure psychiatric hospitals in England and Wales and treats people with mental illness and personality disorders who represent a high degree of harm to themselves or others, according to the NHS.

It provides assessment, treatment and care in conditions of high security for men aged 18 and above from London and the South of England.