Third schoolboy arrested after fire in Maidstone town centre
13:31, 24 August 2022
updated: 15:41, 24 August 2022
A third child has been arrested after a fire was started in the town centre.
Emergency services cordoned off a two-storey building in Sandling Road, Maidstone, for more than three hours on Monday.
At its height, eight fire engines and a height vehicle attended to extinguish the flames in the building – which consists of an undercover car park and disused office space.
Police have confirmed three schoolboys - aged 12, 13 and 14 - have been arrested following the "deliberate" blaze.
They were in custody yesterday but have since been bailed, pending further inquiries, until Thursday, September 15.
One witness who was near the Hare & Hounds pub said he could see smoke billowing from the building before a large emergency service response arrived on scene.
Our reporter at the scene said the road had been closed to traffic close to Maidstone East railway station, but people were still able to use the path.
No injuries were reported.