The fire has triggered a huge crisis (Image: Getty)
The fire at an electrical substation which led to the Heathrow shutdown is not believed to be “foul play”, Ed Miliband has indicated.
At least 1,351 flights were disrupted after Heathrow was closed, with chaos also set to hit airports around the world.
Cardiologists: Slim Your Waist with a Teaspoon on an Empty Stomach!Health & Lifestyle| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
DON'T MISS
Powered by
‘Disgraceful!' Labour blasted for net zero ‘quest to damage countryside' with ugly pylons
167 Comments
Europe's 'most wanted' uncovered as Russian spy boss on the run
3 Comments
Inside Russian spy ring sting that exposes Moscow's terrifying shadow war tactics
14 Comments
Ed Miliband's 'solar farm madness' torn apart as Net Zero drive puts food security at risk
51 Comments
Labour has pushed UK into 'moment of economic peril' as Keir Starmer savaged
41 Comments
Russian economy meltdown as aviation industry in turmoil with 30 airlines 'going bankrupt'
53 Comments
Tech bros are missing the obvious about growth - it really isn't hard to see the answer
12 Comments
Martin Lewis shares UK energy prices prediction if Donald Trump seals Ukraine peace deal
50 Comments
Rayner told councils shake-up risks 'deliver no savings' unless minimum threshold is met
25 Comments
More than a million to be hit by Rachel Reeves' latest tax raid - check if you're impacted
294 Comments
Kemi Badenoch is fixated on Nigel Farage - and we all know exactly why that is!
66 Comments
HMRC rakes in ￡7bn from Britain's 'most hated tax' - and it's rising
89 Comments
Keir Starmer must issue UK ban for one thing to show he values national security
45 Comments
We Tories have little to show for 14 years in power - this is where it all went wrong
112 Comments
The Easiest Way to Get Your Passport in 2025.GovPlus| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Met Police issues major update on Heathrow closure as counter-terror officers lead probe
1 Comments
'Malicious and baseless' Vladimir Putin's Russia slammed in latest UK spy row
11 Comments
Upgrade Your Apartment Complex: Debunking Myths About Fiber-Optic RetrofitsQuantum Fiber| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Zelensky's eight-word assessment of new game-changing missile as ceasefire talks continue
13 Comments
Is Russia behind Heathrow Airport chaos? Expert says attack would be 'act of war'
38 Comments
The Easiest Way to Get Your Passport in 2025.GovPlus| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Labour airport row as Ed Miliband's 'false trade-offs' challenged by Cabinet colleague
6 Comments
How a simple mistake blew open a Russian spy network: Inside the stunning investigation
18 Comments
The Easiest Way to Get Your Passport in 2025.GovPlus| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
‘Disgraceful!' Labour blasted for net zero ‘quest to damage countryside' with ugly pylons
167 Comments
Europe's 'most wanted' uncovered as Russian spy boss on the run
3 Comments
Cardiologists: Slim Your Waist with a Teaspoon on an Empty Stomach!Health & Lifestyle| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Inside Russian spy ring sting that exposes Moscow's terrifying shadow war tactics
14 Comments
Ed Miliband's 'solar farm madness' torn apart as Net Zero drive puts food security at risk
51 Comments
The Easiest Way to Get Your Passport in 2025.GovPlus| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Labour has pushed UK into 'moment of economic peril' as Keir Starmer savaged
41 Comments
Russian economy meltdown as aviation industry in turmoil with 30 airlines 'going bankrupt'
53 Comments
The Secret Revealed: Why All Humming birds Go to My Neighbor's GardenSherem| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Tech bros are missing the obvious about growth - it really isn't hard to see the answer
12 Comments
Martin Lewis shares UK energy prices prediction if Donald Trump seals Ukraine peace deal
50 Comments
The Easiest Way to Get Your Passport in 2025.GovPlus| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Rayner told councils shake-up risks 'deliver no savings' unless minimum threshold is met
25 Comments
More than a million to be hit by Rachel Reeves' latest tax raid - check if you're impacted
294 Comments
The Easiest Way to Get Your Passport in 2025.GovPlus| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Kemi Badenoch is fixated on Nigel Farage - and we all know exactly why that is!
66 Comments
HMRC rakes in ￡7bn from Britain's 'most hated tax' - and it's rising
89 Comments
Cardiologists: Slim Your Waist with a Teaspoon on an Empty Stomach!Health & Lifestyle| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Keir Starmer must issue UK ban for one thing to show he values national security
45 Comments
We Tories have little to show for 14 years in power - this is where it all went wrong
112 Comments
Met Police issues major update on Heathrow closure as counter-terror officers lead probe
1 Comments
'Malicious and baseless' Vladimir Putin's Russia slammed in latest UK spy row
11 Comments
Zelensky's eight-word assessment of new game-changing missile as ceasefire talks continue
13 Comments
Is Russia behind Heathrow Airport chaos? Expert says attack would be 'act of war'
38 Comments
Labour airport row as Ed Miliband's 'false trade-offs' challenged by Cabinet colleague
6 Comments
How a simple mistake blew open a Russian spy network: Inside the stunning investigation
18 Comments
‘Disgraceful!' Labour blasted for net zero ‘quest to damage countryside' with ugly pylons
167 Comments
Europe's 'most wanted' uncovered as Russian spy boss on the run
3 Comments
Inside Russian spy ring sting that exposes Moscow's terrifying shadow war tactics
14 Comments
Ed Miliband's 'solar farm madness' torn apart as Net Zero drive puts food security at risk
51 Comments
Labour has pushed UK into 'moment of economic peril' as Keir Starmer savaged
41 Comments
Russian economy meltdown as aviation industry in turmoil with 30 airlines 'going bankrupt'
53 Comments
Tech bros are missing the obvious about growth - it really isn't hard to see the answer
12 Comments
Some 100,000 homes in west London were also without power overnight as 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines battled the blaze on Nestles Avenue in Hayes.
London Fire Brigade said the fire is under control and London Ambulance Service confirmed that there were no casualties.
Fears immediately surfaced that the crisis had been triggered by a Russian sabotage attack. The Kremlin’s spies are known to be recruiting criminals to carry out arson attacks and targeting transport networks.
Sponsored
Dexcom| Sponsored Sponsored
Try Now
Discover Effortless Glucose Monitoring: Request a Free Trial
Undo
Asked if foul play could be ruled out, Energy Secretary Mr Miliband told LBC: “There’s no suggestion that there is foul play.” Pressed on whether it was simply a “catastrophic accident”, Mr Miliband said: “The conversation I’ve had is with the National Grid, the chief executive of the National Grid and certainly, that’s what he said to me.”
READ MORE: Police turn away Heathrow passengers walking to closed airport
More than 1,000 flights were grounded (Image: Getty)
Mr Miliband said a backup generator that should have powered Heathrow was also damaged in the fire.
However, he said there was a secondary backup and that the National Grid was working to get this online to restore electricity to the airport.
The Cabinet minister told Sky News: “As I understand it from the National Grid, there was a backup generator but that was also affected by the fire, which gives a sense of how unusual and unprecedented it was.
“There is a second backup which they are seeking to use to restore power so there are backup mechanisms in place but given the scale of this fire the backup mechanisms also seem to have been affected.
“But obviously with any incident like this we will want to understand why it happened and what if any lessons it has for our infrastructure.”
Asked by Times Radio if she thought the fire at an electricity substation may have been caused intentionally, Ruth Cadbury, the Labour MP, replied: “I think that’s somewhat speculative.
“There are obviously questions about it, and I don’t know enough about electricity, but for the airport to be dependent on one substation, it does raise questions.”
She added it was “very, very concerning” that “one substation can close down an airport and there isn’t an alternative source of energy”.
Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, warned a Bulgarian spy ring convicted of spying on an “almost industrial scale” is a “clear example” of Moscow “contracting” out its intelligence gathering to proxies and criminals, adding: “We will see more of that.”
Asked if there were other more spy cells operating in Britain, Commander Murphy said: "The reality is, it won’t be the only activity Russia has conducted here in the UK and we have seen other disruptions into other types of Russian activity.
"Ken McCallum has been very open about the fact that there has been a very regular stream of sabotage and other activities linked to the Russian intelligence services.
"In terms of specific groups, all I can say is that within that 20% demand, there are a number of other investigations linked to Russia but they are not necessarily of this type. We look at lots of international threats."
MI5 Director General Ken McCallum said Russia and Iran are on a mission to cause “mayhem” with an increase in arson, murder, kidnap and sabotage conspiracies.
Trending
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
The threat Moscow poses on Britain’s streets is “getting worse”, he warned.
Mr McCallum said Russia’s GRU intelligence agency, which was responsible for the Novichok poisonings in Salisbury in 2018, is behind the "sustained mission", adding that Putin’s “henchmen” are ramping up arson and sabotage operations across Europe “in the misguided hope of weakening Western resolve”.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
‘Disgraceful!' Labour blasted for net zero ‘quest to damage countryside' with ugly pylons
167 Comments
Europe's 'most wanted' uncovered as Russian spy boss on the run
3 Comments
Inside Russian spy ring sting that exposes Moscow's terrifying shadow war tactics
14 Comments
Ed Miliband's 'solar farm madness' torn apart as Net Zero drive puts food security at risk
51 Comments
Labour has pushed UK into 'moment of economic peril' as Keir Starmer savaged
41 Comments
Russian economy meltdown as aviation industry in turmoil with 30 airlines 'going bankrupt'
53 Comments
Tech bros are missing the obvious about growth - it really isn't hard to see the answer
12 Comments
Martin Lewis shares UK energy prices prediction if Donald Trump seals Ukraine peace deal
50 Comments
Rayner told councils shake-up risks 'deliver no savings' unless minimum threshold is met
25 Comments
More than a million to be hit by Rachel Reeves' latest tax raid - check if you're impacted
294 Comments
Kemi Badenoch is fixated on Nigel Farage - and we all know exactly why that is!
66 Comments
HMRC rakes in ￡7bn from Britain's 'most hated tax' - and it's rising
89 Comments
Keir Starmer must issue UK ban for one thing to show he values national security
45 Comments
We Tories have little to show for 14 years in power - this is where it all went wrong
110 Comments
Eagle Whiskey Bottle: A Collector’s DreamGrishay| Sponsored Sponsored
Read More
Undo
Met Police issues major update on Heathrow closure as counter-terror officers lead probe
1 Comments
'Malicious and baseless' Vladimir Putin's Russia slammed in latest UK spy row
11 Comments
The Easiest Way to Get Your Passport in 2025.GovPlus| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Zelensky's eight-word assessment of new game-changing missile as ceasefire talks continue
13 Comments
Is Russia behind Heathrow Airport chaos? Expert says attack would be 'act of war'
38 Comments
The Secret Revealed: Why All Humming birds Go to My Neighbor's GardenSherem| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Labour airport row as Ed Miliband's 'false trade-offs' challenged by Cabinet colleague
6 Comments
How a simple mistake blew open a Russian spy network: Inside the stunning investigation
18 Comments
2025's Most Realistic Bunny ToySherum| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
‘Disgraceful!' Labour blasted for net zero ‘quest to damage countryside' with ugly pylons
167 Comments
Europe's 'most wanted' uncovered as Russian spy boss on the run
3 Comments
Discover Effortless Glucose Monitoring: Request a Free TrialDexcom| Sponsored Sponsored
Try Now
Undo
Inside Russian spy ring sting that exposes Moscow's terrifying shadow war tactics
14 Comments
Ed Miliband's 'solar farm madness' torn apart as Net Zero drive puts food security at risk
51 Comments
Skip The Lines—Renew Your Passport Online.GovPlus| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Labour has pushed UK into 'moment of economic peril' as Keir Starmer savaged
41 Comments
Russian economy meltdown as aviation industry in turmoil with 30 airlines 'going bankrupt'
53 Comments
Eagle Whiskey Bottle: A Collector’s DreamGrishay| Sponsored Sponsored
Read More
Undo
Tech bros are missing the obvious about growth - it really isn't hard to see the answer
12 Comments
Martin Lewis shares UK energy prices prediction if Donald Trump seals Ukraine peace deal
50 Comments
What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)Atopic Dermatitis Rash| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Rayner told councils shake-up risks 'deliver no savings' unless minimum threshold is met
25 Comments
More than a million to be hit by Rachel Reeves' latest tax raid - check if you're impacted
294 Comments
The Easiest Way to Get Your Passport in 2025.GovPlus| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Kemi Badenoch is fixated on Nigel Farage - and we all know exactly why that is!
66 Comments
HMRC rakes in ￡7bn from Britain's 'most hated tax' - and it's rising
89 Comments
The Secret Revealed: Why All Humming birds Go to My Neighbor's GardenSherem| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Keir Starmer must issue UK ban for one thing to show he values national security
45 Comments
We Tories have little to show for 14 years in power - this is where it all went wrong
110 Comments
Met Police issues major update on Heathrow closure as counter-terror officers lead probe
1 Comments
'Malicious and baseless' Vladimir Putin's Russia slammed in latest UK spy row
11 Comments
Zelensky's eight-word assessment of new game-changing missile as ceasefire talks continue
13 Comments
Is Russia behind Heathrow Airport chaos? Expert says attack would be 'act of war'
38 Comments
Labour airport row as Ed Miliband's 'false trade-offs' challenged by Cabinet colleague
6 Comments
How a simple mistake blew open a Russian spy network: Inside the stunning investigation
18 Comments
‘Disgraceful!' Labour blasted for net zero ‘quest to damage countryside' with ugly pylons
167 Comments
Europe's 'most wanted' uncovered as Russian spy boss on the run
3 Comments
Inside Russian spy ring sting that exposes Moscow's terrifying shadow war tactics
14 Comments
Ed Miliband's 'solar farm madness' torn apart as Net Zero drive puts food security at risk
51 Comments
Labour has pushed UK into 'moment of economic peril' as Keir Starmer savaged
41 Comments
Russian economy meltdown as aviation industry in turmoil with 30 airlines 'going bankrupt'
53 Comments
Tech bros are missing the obvious about growth - it really isn't hard to see the answer
12 Comments
Stop Any Dog From Barking, Here's HowBarx Buddy
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
2025's Most Realistic Bunny ToySherum
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Eagle Whiskey Bottle: A Collector’s DreamGrishay
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Discover Effortless Glucose Monitoring: Reques...Dexcom
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Britain’s top intelligence officer said Russia and Iran are hiring criminals to carry out their “dirty work” and acting with “increasing recklessness”.
At least 24 alleged saboteurs were arrested last year after being recruited by Russian spy chiefs.
A wave of fires at arms factories and military-related industrial sites in the West has alarmed intelligence chiefs. Suspected plots have been detected in London, Germany, Czech Republic and Sweden.