Redbridge (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Three people are in life-threatening condition following a suspected arson attack at a restaurant in Ilford, Redbridge, according to police reports.
Around 9 p.m. on Friday, firefighters, police, and paramedics were dispatched to the incident on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill.
Five individuals were evacuated from the restaurant after firefighters rescued nine others from the damaged ground floor, according to the Redbridge Fire Brigade.
Three ladies and two men were among the five injured in the event. Paramedics treated them on the spot, and they were transported to the hospital, where they are still being treated.
According to the Metropolitan Police, three of the five are in a potentially fatal situation.
There have been no arrests.
Firefighters and the Met are looking into what caused the fire.
The aftermath of the suspected arson incident was detailed by a local resident.
When he heard screams, 43-year-old hospital porter Edward Thawe went outside his neighborhood house with his 12-year-old son to ask if he could help.
Mr. Thawe called the situation “horrible,” “more than scary, and the sort of thing that you don’t want to look at twice,” and the fact that the police and ambulance were already there.
He stated that he believed a woman and a man who were both outdoors might have been clients.
Mr. Thawe went on to say that the man was still wearing his pants even though his “whole body was burnt,” including his shirt.
Another resident of Ilford, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed that he heard screams and the sound of emergency service sirens in the street and went outside.
He said he saw three injured people being doused by the emergency services.
He said the people were “severely burned” and he saw they were being given oxygen.
He added:
“I can only imagine the pain they were going through.”
I came down because there were so many police and ambulance sirens and when I open the doors there were lots of lights flashing and I could see the scene. I could not sleep properly last night over it. It was just absolutely horrible situation.”
On Saturday, forensic officers wearing protective gear inspected the scene while uniformed policemen manned the police perimeter.
The taped cordon extended from the pavement to the storefront on the local high street that fronted a busy main road.
A forensic officer noticed a trail of what looked like bloodstained footsteps on the pavement.
Outside the store, some products were likewise wrapped in clear plastic bags.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, of the Met’s Central Specialist Crime North unit, said:
“We understand this incident will cause concern within the community. My team of specialist detectives are working at speed to piece the incident together.
Locals can expect to see a large police presence in the area. If you have any concerns, please speak to those officers on the ground.”
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said:
“We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer and paramedics from our hazardous area response team. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London’s Air Ambulance.
We treated five people for burns and smoke inhalation. We took two patients to a major trauma centre and three others to local hospitals.”
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said:
“We were called at 9.02pm to reports of a fire at a restaurant on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill.
Part of the ground floor restaurant was damaged by fire. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued five people from the restaurant. They were all taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service. Around nine further people were able to leave the restaurant before firefighters arrived.
The brigade’s control officers received seven calls about the fire and mobilised crews from Ilford, Hainault, Leytonstone and Woodford fire stations to the scene. The fire was extinguished by 10.32pm.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who is the MP for Ilford North, posted on X saying:
“Huge thanks to @metpoliceuk @LondonFire @Ldn_Ambulance for their response to a serious incident on Gants Hill/Woodford Avenue this evening.
Please avoid the area for now. Further updates will follow from @RedbridgeLive and emergency services.”
What evidence have detectives released about how the fire started?
Examine the fire scene to determine the origin, observing burn patterns, char marks, and melted materials to locate the exact point where the fire ignited. Look for signs of accelerants or unusual fuel distribution like pooled liquids or multiple ignition points that may suggest deliberate ignition.
Collect physical evidence such as incendiary devices, leftover containers, or residues that can be chemically tested. Interview witnesses and review any available CCTV or electronic data to identify suspicious behavior or persons involved.
In this Ilford restaurant case, investigators are focusing on establishing whether the fire was started intentionally (as arson is suspected) and gathering forensic evidence to support that. The police have set up a cordon and employed forensic teams to carefully document the scene.