Suspected arson at Auckland City Hospital: Police arrest man after two fires in ED, carpark

Police have arrested a man after two fires were allegedly deliberately lit inside Auckland City Hospital, one in the ED, this afternoon.

Fire and Emergency NZ told the Herald it was called to a fire on the fourth level of a carpark building and another inside the emergency department at 3.43pm.

A spokesman said the fires were being treated as suspicious.

Health New Zealand said the incident “was quickly controlled and did not affect patients”, but referred all further questions to police.

Police confirmed to the Herald a man had been arrested “following a series of incidents in central Auckland this afternoon”.

The man was arrested on Tāmaki Dr and was helping police with their inquiries, a spokesman said.

“What we can say at this stage is that police were initially called to Auckland City Hospital about 3.40pm to a report of a minor fire,” he said.

“Our staff are still working through the exact sequence of events with what has occurred, and these inquiries remain in the early stages.”

Police would not comment further.

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers business, breaking news and local stories from Tāmaki Makaurau. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.

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