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Ferry passenger charged with arson (31 December 2013)

Date: 31/12/2013
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors,  Ferry passenger charged with arson

A passenger on a North Sea ferry has been charged with arson, after a ferry bound for Holland had to be evacuated on Saturday night (28/12/13), just 30 miles off the Yorkshire coast.

Passengers on MS King Seaways were scrambled to lifeboats after fire alarms rang out on board the ferry – six passengers were airlifted by the RAF to hospital, suffering from smoke inhalation. Of these, one was a pregnant woman who was a passenger – and five were crew members who tackled the blaze. They were taken to hospital in Scarborough and later discharged.

The ferry was carrying 946 passengers and 127 crew members at the time of the arson attack – and DFDS Seaways said the fire was started at around 10.45pm as the ferry left North Shields and headed for Ijmuiden in the Netherlands.

The ferry operator confirmed that the fire had been extinguished within 15 minutes, although images in the media showed extensive fire damage to a cabin on board the MS King Seaways.

The ferry returned to North Shields on Sunday where passengers were interviewed by police.

Northumbria Police have confirmed that a passenger – 26-year-old Boden George Hughes – has been charged with arson reckless to endangering life and affray.

A 28-year-old man has been released on bail, after being arrested on suspicion of affray.

Hughes is due to appear before magistrates in North Shields today (31/12/13).

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