A man has been arrested after several vehicles were burned to a crisp in Elephant and Castle, leaving one local mum’s life “turned upside down”.
Police were called about an ambulance on fire in Lambeth Road and found two more burning cars on St George’s Road, at the junction with Hayles Street, in the early hours of Wednesday, March 1.
A 24-year-old man was found nearby, arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and detained under the mental health act.
Local mum-of-two Sakinatul Choudhury, whose BMW 5 series was written off, said her life had been “turned upside down” since.
The nursery worker said she’d struggled to do everyday tasks – like taking her disabled fourteen-year-old daughter to school and doing the shopping – since losing the car that “made me so happy”.
She said: “A policeman called my name and I opened the door and I was wondering how can somebody know my name?
“When I opened the door they [the policeman] asked ‘is that your car?’”
“I was really shocked and it’s affected my health. The car was in my family for eighteen years and we never had a problem with it. I used to joke that this car was my boyfriend because I’d drive it and feel so happy. My life has been turned upside down,” she said.
Sakinatul’s said her insurance company has paid out £4,000 but that she’s struggling to afford a new car that suits her needs.
“It’s really difficult I want to buy a car but I’m having to take time to think it through. With the cost of living crisis, everything rises,” she said.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “Police were called at 03.29hrs on Wednesday, 1 March to reports of an ambulance on fire in Lambeth Road, SE1.
“Officers and the London Fire Brigade attended and also found two cars on fire in St George’s Road, near the junction with Hayles Street, SE1.
“A 24-year-old man was located nearby and arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
“He was taken to a south London police station. He was subsequently detained under the mental health act and was taken to a hospital for treatment.”