Three people in life-threatening condition after restaurant 'arson attack'

Following a suspected arson attack at a restaurant in east London, five people were hospitalized, three of whom were in a life-threatening situation. At 21:00 BST on Friday, police, paramedics, and firefighters were alerted to the fire on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill, Ilford. In the fire, three women and two men were wounded, and they were taken to the hospital where they are now. According to a witness, one of the men was killed in the aftermath, after his "complete body was burnt. Firefighters and the police are investigating the cause of the fire. According to the Met Police, no arrests had been made.

The fires that had been extinguished by 22:30, destroyed part of the restaurant's ground floor. Firefighters rescued the five people from the hospital, with nine others able to get out of the building before the brigade arrived.

Edward Thawe, a 43-year-old hospital porter, said he saw one of the wounded men, whose

complete body was burnt. Mr Thawe said he stepped outside his 12-year-old son's neighborhood to see if he could help after hearing screaming. Mr Thawe described the police and ambulance on the scene as

horribleandthe sort of thing you don't want to look at twice.

We know this incident will cause fear within the community,

Det Ch Insp Mark Rogers said. My team of specialist detectives is on the scene at any speed to piece the investigation together. "Locals can expect a heavy police presence in the area. If you have questions, please contact those officers on the ground. On X's health minister Wes Streeting, the MP for Ilford North, praised police, fire, and ambulance crews for their service.

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