Five teens held over M1 fire that shut motorway and caused chaos to Britain's roads

12 April 2012

Police investigating the scrapyard blaze that closed the M1 motorway for more than 36 hours arrested five teenagers in dawn raids today.

Officers from Barnet CID swooped on addresses in Barnet and Harrow.

Those held are all male and aged between 14 and 17.

A seven mile stretch of the motorway had to be shut between junctions 1 and 4 after the fire caused a concrete beam supporting the motorway to explode.

The fire at Apex Metal Recycling in Mill Hill on 15 April caused serious damage to the recycling yard as well as a motorway bridge.

Police said they had linked the inquiry to two other suspicious fires.

The five were being interviewed at north London police stations.

Scotland Yard said a number of items were seized for forensic examination.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Roycroft of Barnet borough said: "Although we are pursuing a number of active leads into these fires we would still ask that anyone who has any information about these crimes contact Barnet police."

Anyone with information is asked to call Barnet police on 020 8733 4549 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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