KHAN INFERNO
Amir Khan’s £5million wedding venue ‘deliberately’ set alight in arson attack
Cops are investigating after the multi-million pound Bolton banqueting hall, which is still under construction, went up in flames
AMIR Khan's £5million wedding venue project has been "deliberately" set alight by arsonists, cops believe.
Police are investigating after the multi-million pound Bolton banqueting hall, which has been under construction for the past four years, went up in flames on Sunday.
4
4
Amir's eldest uncle Shahid Mahmood told Sun Online: "I found out about the fire and rang Amir's sister who told me that it was some homeless people who got into the building and lit a fire to keep warm and that's how it allegedly started.
"But later police informed us that the fire was started deliberately.
"I'm not sure of the complete damage but some cladding has been damaged ...the full extent I'm not sure yet."
Bolton Central Fire Station’s Chris Wilcox said three fire crews rushed to put out the blaze, which struck the Deane site on Sunday.
BLAZE ON TOP LEVEL
Wilcox told : “There was a fire on the top level of a quantity of building material. I believe it’s deliberate, so police have been requested.”
He said that firefighters were able to gain access, and tackle the blaze in time “so it’s not taken hold of the building.”
Firefighters were met by “a lot of black smoke” when they arrived – because of the burning plastic cladding.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service told The Bolton News that crews were alerted to smoke billowing from the site at about 6.30pm.
Wilcox said the fire was quickly extinguished.
However, there was damage to the building as a result, with an estimated 15-metre section of glass damaged, as well as a 10m square section of floor.
The paper reports that the building has been under construction for the past four years, but work had been stopped.
LUXURY WEDDING VENUE PLAN
Amir's original vision for the building was as a venue for wedding receptions and business conferences with a 620-seater buffet restaurant.
The plan was to turn the site into an 800-seat function hall on the second floor, and to have a VIP restaurant, 51 parking spaces and a roof terrace.
The boxer ploughed millions into the development in his hometown of Bolton, which was meant to open in 2017.
But the boxer was left devastated when he looked into the finances of the ambitious project and found a massive £2.8 million overspend.
The project was hit by delays and the boxer has recently speculated about the venue becoming a school or part of the university.
Just a week ago he took to social media to ask fans what they thought should become of the building.
Most read in UK News
He wrote on Facebook: "Decision time when I’m back from the April 20 fight in New York.
“The building will be finished from outside and water tight. I will decide what to do with it.
“Send me your ideas, what I should do?”
4
4
Amir Khan celebrates new year in style with Faryal Makhdoom as he holidays in Dubai
Topics