Police arrest man in connection with Luton Airport car park fire as drivers warned of insurance issues
Motorists are urged to contact their insurance provider if they are affected
PA
A man has been arrested in connection to the devastating Luton Airport car park fire which saw more than 1,000 vehicles affected.
Bedfordshire Police said a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage last week and has been released on bail.
The fire started almost two weeks ago with the majority of the £20million parking structure going up in flames within hours.
The blaze started shortly before 9pm, with the police saying that a diesel-powered Range Rover was the cause of the fire.
WATCH NOW: Footage shows blaze at Luton Airport car park
In the latest development, Bedfordshire Police have made an arrest, with the force committed to continuing its investigations.
A Bedfordshire Police spokesperson 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 (October 10).
“We are carrying out a thorough and diligent investigation into all potential lines of enquiry, as should be expected after such a major event.”
It is estimated that 1,405 vehicles were affected by the blaze, with parking company APCOA saying they had received more than 16,500 customer queries.
There are fears that the multi-storey car park will need to be demolished after the extensive damage to the structure from the fire.
The impact of the fire caused around 30,000 passengers to see disruptions to their journeys with all flights from Luton Airport being stopped for almost a day.
Some companies have offered complementary vehicle hire until the situation has been resolved, while others have promised customers that their insurance would not be affected.
A spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers (ABI) said: “The fire at Luton Airport’s car park is of course incredibly stressful and upsetting for anyone affected.
“Insurers continue to do all they can to help their customers. We’ve worked with fellow industry body the Motor Insurers’ Bureau to obtain and share the number plates of the vehicles in the car park with our members, who are contacting customers as quickly as possible.
“Many insurers are covering the costs of their customers’ journeys home from the airport, others have said they will waive policy excesses and that any claim from the fire will not impact no claims discounts.
“If you suspect that your vehicle may have been damaged in the fire and have not already done so, speak to your insurer to see what support is available.”
The spokesperson added that the car park has suffered extensive damage, saying that no one would be able to enter the building until it is deemed safe.
The ABI stated that it is standard practice for courtesy cars to only be provided when a vehicle can be repaired, not when they are written off, although it depends on the insurer.
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Around 1,400 vehicles are estimated to have been inside the car park at the time of the fire
REUTERS
Drivers are being urged to speak to their insurer to clarify whether their no claims discount would be affected by the car park blaze.