Prison building fire being treated as 'suspicious'

A fire at a prison that resulted in inmates having to be evacuated is being treated as "suspicious".

Emergency services were called to HMP Highpoint, in Suffolk, after a blaze broke out in one of its buildings at 14:40 BST on 24 April.

The Prison Service told the BBC that staff took "immediate action" and everyone was taken to safety, and no casualties were reported.

Suffolk Police said following an investigation, the blaze is now being treated as suspicious, and a suspect has been identified, who will be interviewed under caution.

The fire saw 14 appliances from the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service sent to the scene, as well as three additional crews from Cambridgeshire.

The blaze was found in a timber and brick structure, and crews used thermal image cameras along with jets to stop it from spreading to an adjacent building.

The number of crews was scaled back to six overnight before the fire was put out by 07:30 BST the following day.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson thanked the fire service for their "tireless efforts" and said the extent of the damage would be assessed.

Do you have a story suggestion for Suffolk? Contact us below.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.