Four arson arrests over Islamic Darul Uloom School fire Published duration 10 June 2013

image caption Pupils and staff were able to return to the Darul Uloom school building on Sunday morning

Four teenagers have been arrested after a fire at an Islamic boarding school in south-east London.

About 128 pupils and staff were evacuated from Darul Uloom School in Foxbury Avenue, Chislehurst, on Saturday.

Two 17-year-olds and two 18-year-olds were arrested on suspicion of arson on Sunday, the Metropolitan police said.

Police said the fire caused minor damage and two people were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation.

media caption Commander Simon Letchford: There is an increased police presence around potentially vulnerable locations

The teenagers are in custody at a south London police station.

Commander Simon Letchford told BBC London: "It's only by luck that the fire attack didn't prove to be fatal.

"Fortunately [it] was identified very quickly."

A police spokesman said officers were asking members of the public to remain calm and not to speculate as to the cause of the fire.