A 15-year-old boy and a 54-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of arson on Sunday following a fire that broke out at an Indian restaurant in east London, causing serious injuries to five people.
The Metropolitan Police said officers responded to the Indian Aroma restaurant in Ilford on Friday night. Three women and two men, believed to be diners, suffered burns and were treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service paramedics before being taken to hospital. According to police, a man and a woman remain in life-threatening condition.
“While we have made two arrests, our investigation continues at pace so we can piece together what happened on Friday evening,” said Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers of the Met Police’s Central Specialist Crime North unit.
“I know the community members are concerned and shocked by this incident. I would urge anyone with any information or concerns to come forward and speak to police,” he added.
Both suspects were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and remain in police custody. A significant police presence remained in the Woodford Avenue area of Gants Hill throughout the weekend.
Police said they believe there are two additional victims who left the scene before officers arrived, and efforts to identify them are ongoing.
The restaurant sustained extensive damage from the fire. Witnesses reported hearing loud screams on Friday night. As per a CCTV footage, the attackers were masked and set fire to the dining spot.
The London Ambulance Service detailed its response on the aid accompanied at the restaurant. “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 treated five people for burns and smoke inhalation. We took two patients to a major trauma centre and three others to local hospitals.”
The restaurant is managed by Rohit Kaluvala and describes itself as dedicated to delivering the authentic flavours of India.
The website of the restaurant states “Some of our clientele include movie executives, film and television crews, religious and cultural events, charity and business events, and religious and cultural events. Our restaurant is highly known for both its first-rate customer service and its high-quality, distinctive Indian cuisine served with its authentic recipes,” its website notes
The London Fire Brigade confirmed that it continues to investigate the cause of the fire. “We were called at 9:02 pm to reports of a fire at a restaurant on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill. Part of the ground-floor restaurant was damaged by fire,” a spokesperson said.
“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 spokesperson added.
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With inputs from agencies