51°30′55″N 0°07′46″W / 51.51528°N 0.12944°W
Denmark Place fire | |
---|---|
Location | 18 Denmark Place, Central London, UK |
Date | 16 August 1980 |
Attack type | Arson, mass murder |
Deaths | 37 |
Injured | 23 |
Perpetrator | John Thompson |
Motive | Argument with bartender |
The Denmark Place fire occurred on 16 August 1980 at 18 Denmark Place in Central London.[1][2] The fire, caused by arson, killed 37 people[1][2][3][4] of eight nationalities.[4] Most of the victims were Spanish or Latin American,[3] and were patrons of two unlicensed bars in the building.[1][2] At the time, The Sunday Times said the fire could be "the worst mass murder in British history".[1]