Moorgate Fire: TfL Tube station shut and thick black smoke seen coming from building near Barbican

A fire broke out in a building in the City of London this morning, sending thick black smoke into the air.

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters attended the scene at Moorgate on Thursday.

Reports on social media showed that Moorgate Underground station had been closed.

Local resident Sarah Gaventa wrote on Twitter: “View from my balcony. Looks like a major fire in the building above the Rack & Tenter pub at Moorgate. Stinks of plastics.”

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said a large amount of smoke was being produced by the fire, which occurred in a disused office block.

The plant room on the tenth floor, in a building of eleven floors, was destroyed by fire.

Around 1,200 people were evacuated from surrounding buildings in the area as a precaution.

There are no reports of any injuries.

City of London Police at the scene say the fire is now out and final checks are taking place before allowing people back into the  building.

Office workers from nearby buildings were also evacuated but many have gone back in.

A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said: “The Brigade was first called at 11.22am and the fire was under control by 12.48pm. Crews from Whitechapel, Euston, Poplar and surrounding fire stations are in attendance.”

The cause of the fire is not yet known.