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Brent Cross: Cars catch fire at London shopping centre

Four fire engines and about 25 firefighters responded to the blaze in an open-air car park in Hendon, north London, on Saturday

Harry Stedman
Saturday 10 May 2025 20:56 BST
Black smoke rises from Brent Cross Shopping Centre after cars catch fire

An investigation has been launched after a number of vehicles caught fire in a car park at Brent Cross Shopping Centre in north London.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said four fire engines and about 25 firefighters responded to the blaze in an open-air car park near Prince Charles Drive in Hendon, after first receiving reports at 4.06pm on Saturday.

Crews from West Hampstead, Finchley, Willesden and surrounding fire stations all attended the scene, where a number of vehicles were on fire.

The incident was under control by 6.14pm and the cause of the fire was being investigated, the LFB said.

No injuries have been reported.

Witnesses saw black smoke rising from Brent Cross Shopping Centre in north London on Saturday afternoon
Witnesses saw black smoke rising from Brent Cross Shopping Centre in north London on Saturday afternoon (PA)

Brent Cross Shopping Centre confirmed an investigation was under way.

Footage on social media appeared to show a fire and thick black smoke in the shopping centre car park and rising above the building.

Rosanna Rafel-Rix, 35, a programme manager based in north London, captured video of the fire.

She said: “So I was leaving Brent Cross and there were plumes of black smoke coming from the John Lewis entrance of the centre. So I started to film.

“As I got closer I saw it was at least one car fully on fire causing the smoke and it didn’t look like the centre itself, but I couldn’t really tell.

“There were no alarms that I heard of people running out, but in the car park people were trying to get away.”

The Metropolitan Police have been contacted for comment.

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