The Shard evacuated after reports of smoke in basement

Once the alarm sounded in the building, the management put procedures into place for the evacuation process.

As we arrived, the commander at the time decided that as a precaution the entire building was to be evacuated and crews quickly worked alongside building management to make sure that occurred.

Evacuating such large numbers of people can impede crews if there is a fire apparent but because it has been practised a number of times and we have worked alongside building management on a number of exercises, it was quite a quick and easy process.

Police were called at 11:09hrs on Thursday 5 June to The Shard, St Thomas Street, SE1 after London Fire Brigade were called to reports of a fire at the premises.

Police, London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service attended the fire which is beleived to be in the basement of The Shard.

A full evacuation is now underway.

No reported injuries at this time. No arrests. Enquries re cause of fire are ongoing.