A 14-year-old girl has died in a fire in east London that is the subject of a murder investigation.
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder over Thursday’s fire in a block of flats in the borough of Newham. The fire is being treated as arson and the investigation is continuing.
Five other people were injured in the blaze and treated in hospital. Their injuries were not life-threatening and they have since been discharged.
The emergency services were called shortly before 5.30pm to reports of a fire at a block of flats in Beckton. Firefighters found a girl aged 14 in a second-floor flat who was pronounced dead at the scene.
A steady stream of teenagers were seen leaving floral tributes outside the block of flats on Tollgate Road on Friday. One 14-year-old girl, who arrived with her mother to lay flowers, said she was in the same year 9 class as the victim.
Rahina Begum, who lives in the block opposite, said: “The fire went up very quickly, within a few seconds. In 10 to 15 seconds the whole building was on fire, from the bottom to the top. The flames were so high.”
Another neighbour described seeing people desperately trying to escape the blaze. He said: “People were jumping from the windows. There were people helping them. All the people were telling them to jump to try and help them.”
Ch Supt Simon Crick said: “My thoughts at this time are with the victim and their family and friends. Incidents such as these send shock waves through our communities and I don’t underestimate the impact this will have in the local area and beyond. Your officers will be on patrol in the immediate vicinity over the Easter weekend, please talk to them if you have any concerns.”
The Met sealed off a section of Tollgate Road and fire engines remained at the scene. Forensics officers also arrived at the crime scene on Friday morning.
DCI Joanna Yorke of the Met’s specialist crime command said: “We are at the very early stages of our investigation and are still keen to hear from anyone who has information but has not yet spoken with police. I understand the effect an incident of this kind will have on the local community and I reiterate Ch Supt Crick’s advice that anyone with concerns should speak with local officers. I would like to thank residents in the immediate area for their cooperation while my team conduct their inquiries.
“Our thoughts are with the family of the victim.”
London ambulance service crews and the London fire brigade attended the scene with the Met on Thursday afternoon. The fire brigade said the stairwell from the ground floor to the second floor of a residential block was destroyed by the fire, and half of the second floor was also damaged.
Six fire engines and about 40 firefighters from East Ham, Plaistow, Barking and surrounding fire stations attended.
