Arson arrest after York campervan explosion damages cars and shop

A man has described the moment a campervan erupted in flames after exploding in the street outside his home. Bryar Kanq, 27, said the vehicle blast in Beaconsfield Street, Acomb, had shattered the window of the shop below his flat and left him feeling "shaken". Another witness said he had heard a "huge boom" before emergency services arrived at the scene at about 23:20 BST. North Yorkshire Police said a 58-year-old local man had been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the incident, which also caused damage to three vehicles and two buildings Kanq lives above Headline Barbers, directly in front of where the campervan was parked. Photos from the scene show the sign above the shop had been melted by the heat of the fire, while shattered glass can be seen on the floor outside. Kanq, who owns the business, said: "I saw the flames then after that there was a big explosion. I was quite shaken. "It was loud, a big fire. I couldn't get out of the front door, so I used the back door, moved my car and called 999." Lawa, 29, a friend of Kanq, said: "He called me and I came, he was shaking. It's shattered his shop's front window." Meanwhile, as a crowd of onlookers gathered at th

Jun 5, 2026 → Jun 5, 2026