A company "refusing to make way" for Tottenham's £400M ($628.5M) new stadium has "burnt down," according to Leon Watson of the London TELEGRAPH. Firefighters "tackled the blaze" at Archway Sheet Metal Works after being called out at around 5:18am. It has been put out, "but ITV News reports that the owners of the factory suspect arson." Josif Josif, 46, who runs Archway, "has previously claimed he has received threats from Spurs fans over his refusal to vacate the site" (TELEGRAPH, 11/25). The LONDON TIMES reported the fire was "brought under control" at 7:52am although crews "remained at the
scene throughout the morning." A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said, "Six fire engines and 35 firefighters and officers were called to a fire at a
metal works on Paxton Road in Tottenham this morning." The club has reached agreements with and "successfully relocated more than 70
local businesses." However, the owner of Archway, the Josif family, has
"refused to reach an agreement after seven years of negotiation" (LONDON TIMES, 11/25). The PA reported Josif said, "People were calling us and threatening us and we were receiving bomb
threats and that started a few months ago, but we don't know if that's
got anything to do with it." The London Evening Standard reported another member of the family said, "We have been receiving threats on a day to day basis, mainly phone calls being abusive" (PA, 11/25).
