Fire damages front doors of Australia's Old Parliament House
ABC News
A fire has damaged the front doors and exterior of the Old Parliament House in Canberra, the capital of Australia
CANBERRA, Australia -- A fire damaged the front doors and exterior of Australia's Old Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday.
The cause of the fire wasn't immediately clear, although a small group of protesters had been gathering outside the building. One witness told Melbourne radio station 3AW that he heard protesters chanting “let it burn.”
Social media footage showed flames leaping up the doors, a thick plume of smoke rising above the building, and police dragging protesters away from the front steps.
The Australian Capital Territory emergency services said they were called to the scene just before noon and found the front doors alight. The building was evacuated as a precaution and crews extinguished the blaze.
