Man, 50, charged with arson after ‘starting 10 fires’ at popular park in early hours during heatwave

A MAN has been charged with arson after allegedly starting ten fires at a popular park during a heatwave. Isaac Shozi, 50, was arrested yesterday morning after the London Fire Brigade responded to reports of arson in London Fields, east London. Shozi was taken into police custody on suspicion of arson, setting fires and possession of a Class A drug, and has since been charged. Fire services quickly extinguished around ten fires within the park and thankfully no injuries have been reported. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Shozi is due to appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Monday. Detective Superintendent Liz Cumber, who leads policing in central east London, said: “No one can be in any doubt about the dangers of starting fires, particularly following the recent hot weather and heightened risk of wildfires. “Even small fires can spread quickly and put people, buildings and open spaces at risk. “We take all reports of this nature extremely seriously and work closely with partners, including the London Fire Brigade. “We will investigate all incidents, identify those responsible and ensure appropriate action is taken against those who are reported to have endangered the public.” A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Anyone who witnesses a fire, or behaviour that could pose a risk of a fire starting, should call 999 immediately. Most read in The Sun “Prompt reporting can help emergency services respond quickly and prevent fires from spreading and causing serious harm.” This comes after millions of Brits were left fuming on Friday after a blaring emergency alert suddenly ripped through their phones, warning of the soaring risk of wildfires. The government urged people to “not light anything that could spark a fire”, including barbecues, campfires and fireworks, as Britain battled another spell of scorching heat. It warned: “Even a small flame can rapidly develop into a major wildfire placing lives, homes, businesses and emergency responders at risk.” The alert added: “Recipients will also be urged to report any fire immediately by calling 999.” On Thursday, 11 major fire incidents were reported in the West Midlands alone, with 19 homes completely destroyed and 18 others damaged as families were forced to evacuate. But UK residents were left almost hysterical at the lack of severity of the alert. One fumed: “The noise accompanying that emergency alert feels overkill. “Lot of older people or those hiding phones for their safety possibly put at risk. Does it have to come with a loud noise?”