Fire Service believes Bristol nightclub blaze WAS started deliberately

SWX caught fire in the early hours of Tuesday, just hours after the Prime Minister announced nightclubs would be allowed to reopen

SWX Fire
Author: James DiamondPublished 15th Jul 2021
Last updated 15th Jul 2021

The Avon Fire and Rescue Service say they believe a fire started at a Bristol nightclub on Tuesday (13/07) was started deliberately after all.

SWX on Nelson Street caught fire just hours after the Prime Minister announced all nightclubs could reopen on July 19.

It took 20 firefighters to put out the blaze, which the Fire Service very quickly said was started deliberately, before back tracking.

Correcting their initial announcement on Tuesday, the Fire Service said the cause was "actually unknown" but that investigators were examining the scene.

Now in a new tweet published this afternoon, they say they think the fire was started deliberately.

No one was hurt in the blaze but the venue was badly damaged.

The owners of SWX released a statement at the time, saying they were devestated.

"We are now establishing what has happened," they said.

Our thanks go to Avon and Somerset Fire and Bristol Police for their amazing work and ensuring that the fire damage caused was limited.

"Thank you for your love and support."

Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed they are investigating how the fire was started and are reviewing CCTV footage from the area.

At the time of writing no arrests in relation to the fire have been made.

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