Floodwater at Old Bailey disrupts trials

Trials in six courtrooms at the Old Bailey were disrupted as floodwater cascaded down walls.

One witness said: "It was like the Titanic - you could hear the water lapping in the corridor." The trials were moved to other parts of the historic building.

About 1,500 people were evacuated from the Grade-II listed courthouse in February 2024 after a fire broke out in an electrical substation and several explosions were heard at the rear of the building.

Judges at the Old Bailey, which is formally known as the Central Criminal Court, hear some of the most serious and complex cases in England and Wales, including murder and terrorism trials.

The Old Bailey, which houses 18 courtrooms, has been affected by floods in the past, as well as by plumbing issues that caused odours described as the "Great Stink".

It is on top of the underground River Fleet, a tributary of the Thames.

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