HIGH-END HOTEL GOES UP IN FLAMES
ONE of London’s most glamorous hotels has gone up in flames in a blaze which sent plumes of black smoke billowing over the city.
The luxury Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which reopened just one week ago after a $320 million renovation, caught fire around 4pm, (1am AEST) bringing chaos to upscale Knightsbridge and Belgravia as police, fire and ambulance vehicles raced to the scene.
The singer Robbie Williams was among hundreds of guests and staff evacuated down the fire escape to neighbouring Hyde Park, as the fire broke out on the fifth floor of the historic 12-storey hotel.
He was seen giving a thumbs-up as other guests filmed him and posted video to social media. No one was injured in the blaze.