THIS is the horrific moment a huge blast rips through an east London restaurant with a man fleeing on fire.
Police, paramedics and firefighters raced to the fire at India Aroma restaurant in Gants Hill, Ilford, at about 9pm on Friday.
Facebook/ IG1IG3This is the moment a huge blast rips through an east London restaurant[/caption]
Facebook/ IG1IG3Shocking video footage shows a man running out of the restaurant on fire[/caption]
UKNIPThree people are fighting for their lives with two others in hospital as police investigate a suspected “arson attack”[/caption]
Detectives are now investigating a suspected “arson attack” on the eatery, say the Metropolitan Police.
CCTV footage posted to Facebook shows customers inside the premises when there is a sudden flash of flames that enters through the front doorway.
Separate footage of the street outside appears to show smoke coming from the building, before people run outside, including one person who appears to have flames on their back.
Part of the ground floor was damaged by the fire and firefighters rescued five people from the restaurant, while nine others were able to get out beforehand, London Fire Brigade said.
There were 14 people inside the building at the time.
The Met Police said that five people – three women and two men – were injured in the incident and were treated by paramedics from the London Ambulance Service before they were taken to hospital, where they remain.
Three of the five are in a life-threatening condition.
The incident sparked a huge response by the emergency services with a major investigation by the Met Police and London Fire Service into the cause of the blaze.
Uniformed officers guarded the police cordon that was in place on Saturday as forensic officers in protective clothing examined the scene.
The taped cordon stretched from outside the shop on local high street which faces on to a busy main road and on to the pavement.
A trail of what appeared to be bloodstained footsteps along the pavement was spotted by a forensic officer.
A manhunt is underway with no arrests made.
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.”
Separate video filmed by onlookers shows police and several London Ambulance and London Fire Service crews at the scene from around 9pm on Friday.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 9.04pm yesterday to reports of a fire on Woodford Avenue, Ilford.
“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.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting posted on X: “Huge thanks to @metpoliceuk, @LondonFire and @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.”
A London Fire Service 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 2232.
“The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.”
Kam Rai Leader of Redbridge Council posted on Facebook on Friday night: “I’ve been informed that there’s been a very serious incident on A1400 Woodford Avenue at Gants Hill, towards the Eastern Avenue junction.
“All emergency services are at the location, please avoid the area tonight. Get in touch with the Redbridge Police if you have any information.”
Another poster added: “Does anybody know what’s happening in Gants Hill? Lots of police around and Gants Hill roundabout mostly closed. We couldn’t get down Cranbrook Road towards Ilford.”
One poster on a TikTok video of the scene said: “Was just round there at 3am – the 123s down there and forensics were swarming the place.”
Anyone with information is urged to get in touch with the police.
UKNIPThere were 14 people in the building at the time[/caption]
UKNIPThree people are in a life-threatening condition[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
