Police hunt 'arsonist' after fire rips through classrooms at London primary school

Detectives are hunting a suspected arsonist after a fire ripped through classrooms at a north London primary school.

Churchfield Primary School in Latymer Road, Edmonton remained closed on Monday after police and firefighters were called to a blaze on the grounds just after 5.30am on Sunday.

Seven classrooms were damaged as the flames tore through the school before being brought under control by fire crews at 8am.

Headteacher Matthew Kleiner-Mann said he was outraged the school was apparently targeted but revealed “herculean” efforts by staff meant it would reopen on Tuesday.

Some pupils are being relocated to Heron Hall Academy in Ponders End as a result of the damaged classrooms.

On Monday Scotland Yard said an investigation into the blaze is under way and added it was being treated as arson.

Detectives from Enfield CID have issued an appeal for anyone who noticed anybody acting suspiciously around the school at the time.

Acting Detective Inspector Adam Rowland of Enfield police, who is the senior investigating officer, said: "Thankfully no one was hurt during this incident and the school was empty at the time.

“If this had happened during the week and the school was occupied there is no doubt that there would've been some serious injuries.

"If you were in the vicinity of Latymer Road during the early hours of Sunday morning and saw anyone or anything you believe may have been suspicious, I would urge you to come forward.

"Whoever was responsible for this is still at large and must be caught."

Mr Kleiner-Mann, said: “Following an arson attack at Churchfield Primary School in the early hours of Sunday we were forced to close the school to all pupils today.

“Unfortunately as a result of this mindless attack, seven classrooms have been damaged, along with the plant room and we are investigating suspected structural damage to a wall on the site.

“Despite this setback, the herculean efforts of school staff means we will be reopening the school to Nursery, Reception and Year 1-4 children on Tuesday.

“Because the classrooms damaged were predominantly used by Years 5 & 6 they will be taught at the state of the art Heron Hall Academy until on site arrangements can be made for them.”

“I would like to apologise to parents and pupils affected by this terrible event, and I share their horror and outrage that a primary school should be targeted in such a destructive way.

“We are co-operating fully with the police in order to identify and prosecute the individuals responsible and I would urge anyone who has any information about this incident to contact the police so that we can catch the people responsible.”

Anyone with any information that can assist police are asked to contact Enfield CID via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org