Two girls, aged 12 and 14, have been arrested on suspicion of setting fire to a shopping centre in Alkmaar on Friday evening, Dutch media reported on Monday.

All the shops in the De Mare shopping centre on the Europaboulevard were evacuated when the fire broke out, as were some nearby homes. The blaze caused considerable damage to the building.

The girls, from Heerhugowaard and Den Helder, were picked up on Friday evening close to the complex. They are also being investigated for starting fires at several other locations in Alkmaar on the same day, police said.

The police have not confirmed the girls’ ages but have urged people to stop circulating photographs reportedly showing them online.