A man has been arrested after a Labour MP’s office was destroyed in a suspected arson attack.
The major blaze took place at Sharon Hodgeson’s Gateshead workplace last night and also wrecked a small charity's UK base.
Police attended the scene at the Washington and Gateshead South MP’s office at Vermont House in Concord, Tyne and Wear, in the early hours of Thursday.
Aerial images show much of the building has been damaged.
Graffiti reading “328 days: blood on your hands” was scrawled on the wall outside. It is understood to have been daubed there last September and is believed to be a reference to the Israel Palestine war.
A brick was also thrown at a window of Vermont House last week, it is understood.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "Emergency services attended and no-one is reported to have been injured in the incident.
"A man in his 20s has subsequently been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and arson. He remains in police custody at this time."
The small charity Niemann-Pick UK (NP UK), which supports patients and families with a rare group of genetic diseases, was also based at Vermont House.
Its offices were destroyed in the fire and a spokesperson said there had been a number of attacks on the MP's office in recent months.
“An incident occurred overnight at Sharon's office," a spokesperson for Ms Hodgson said.
“We will not be commenting or speculating while there is an ongoing police investigation, what we are clear on is there is no place for this kind of violence in our society.
“Sharon will not be deterred and will continue to support her constituents in Washington and Gateshead South as she does day in, day out.
“Constituents should get in touch with their issues by emailing in the usual way.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said on Thursday: “This is a live police investigation, so I'm not going to comment on the detail... To be absolutely clear, there is absolutely no place for this kind of violence in our society.
“All those involved in our democratic process should be able to go about their vital work freely and with confidence.”
