No Indication of Foul Play but UK Counter Terrorism Police Lead Heathrow Fire Inquiry

UK Counter Terrorism Leads Inquiry into Heathrow Fire

LONDON (Reuters) -British Police said there was no indication of foul play behind the fire which shut down Heathrow Airport on Friday, but added that its counter terrorism unit was leading inquiries given the critical nature of the incident.

Huge orange flames and plumes of black smoke shot into the sky west of London at 2300 GMT on Thursday as a blaze engulfed a power substation about a mile and a half from the airport, forcing the sudden closure of Europe's busiest hub and disrupting global flights.

"While there is currently no indication of foul play we retain an open mind at this time," London's Metropolitan police service (Met) said in a statement.

"Given the location of the substation and the impact this incident has had on critical national infrastructure, the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command is now leading enquiries."

The specialist unit have the resources and capabilities to progress the investigation at pace, the statement said, adding that the police were working together with London firefighters to establish the cause of the blaze.

Energy minister Ed Miliband said earlier on Friday there was no suggestion that there was foul play involved.

(Reporting by Sarah Young and Muvija M, editing by Michael Holden)