Britain Suspect in LGBT+ Nightclub Fire Released on Conditional Bail as Police Investigate Possible Link to Nearby Church Fire

The fire service was called at 02:09 BST on Sunday, and at its height, 12 appliances were used to tackle the fire

[Europe · Milton Keynes, United Kingdom] Thames Valley Police have confirmed that the 51-year-old Milton Keynes man arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, following the fire that destroyed the Pink Punters LGBT+ nightclub, has been released on conditional bail while inquiries continue.

The fire, which broke out at 02:09 BST on Sunday at the Watling Street venue in Fenny Stratford, resulted in the complete destruction of the building. Hundreds of revellers were evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported. Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service deployed twelve appliances at the height of the blaze.

The investigation has since taken on an additional dimension. Police have disclosed that a separate fire occurred at a nearby church, also on Watling Street, the day before the nightclub blaze. Given the close proximity of the two locations and the short interval between the incidents, investigators are now examining both fires in conjunction with one another. A police spokesperson stated that the force was keeping an open mind and conducting a joint investigation into the two incidents on account of their geographic and temporal proximity.

The cause of each fire and the question of whether the two incidents are connected remain subject to active investigation.

European Editorial Office: John