Langara College remains closed after suspected arson and arrest

Langara College remains closed for the day after a suspected arson incident.

Faculty staff explain that classes on West 49th campus remain cancelled as they prepare to secure personal property and resume operation.

The daycare will also be closed.

Information for students on how to recover their belongings is expected to come later this morning.

Classes being held at the West Broadway campus and any off-site practicum will continue as scheduled.

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• Langara College campus evacuated following emergency incident

On Monday, April 1, just before 12 pm, first responders received reports of a suspicious fire on Langara’s West 49th campus.

At 1:15 pm, the school announced that the campus was closed for the day and all exams and classes were cancelled.

Evacuating Langara College earlier this afternoon after reports of fire in T building. #notanaprilfoolsjoke #yvr #langara pic.twitter.com/YRBfwqLEz0

— Ellie Ann (@the_ellie_ann) April 1, 2019

Here are some more photos of the #Langara fire scene pic.twitter.com/s7klCZdM1Z

— Joshua Rey (@JoshuaRey91) April 1, 2019

so my school cancelled all classes and evacuated campus today because of “a fire” but u need an assault rifle for a fire? #langara pic.twitter.com/wd0M0ngQOL

— ki (@nipihkan) April 1, 2019

Langara College evacuated #langara pic.twitter.com/X2QXhS8hXG

— Jonas Quastel (@JonasQuastel) April 1, 2019

After speaking with witnesses, police determined that the suspect had allegedly entered the college with “incendiary devices.” It’s believed that the suspect may have lit one or more fires before fleeing the scene.

Fortunately, the campus was safely evacuated and there were no reports of injuries.

Later in the afternoon, just after 4 pm, a man in his 20s was arrested in Surrey by Metro Vancouver Transit Police. He is currently in custody.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the VPD’s Major Crime Section at (604) 717-2541.