Beckton fire: Man arrested on suspicion of murder after woman killed & several injured in huge blaze at block of flats
A MAN was last night arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman died when a blaze ripped through a block of flats.
The woman, whose age is unknown, was killed in the inferno in Beckton, East London, after it began at around 5.30pm on Thursday.
Those trapped inside jumped from windows to try to escape, witnesses claimed, and several others were injured in the blaze.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, cops confirmed.
Dramatic images show flames leaping from the windows on the third storey, while crews worked to put the blaze out.
The cause of the inferno is unknown, the fire service said.
Raza Nowsin, 26, manager at the Lidl across the road, said he first noticed a “bit of smoke” before watching those inside leap from the building.
He told MyLondon: “One of my colleagues said, ‘call the police’. As soon as I stepped out [of the shop] that’s what I saw – a huge fire.
“It was just on the balcony bits and then the whole house basically. I saw people jumping out the windows from the balcony at the top, people were running around everywhere.
“They had a mattress there and they were trying to jump on it but some people didn’t get to the mattress.”
One witness at the scene added: “I was walking past the building before the fire brigade got there.
“I witnessed a person jumping out of the second floor window because they were trapped, a sight I never thought I would see.
“The thud on the ground was horrific, I really hope he was ok. I could not get near because the smoke was affecting my asthma but he did have people around him and I think he got up off the ground.”
I saw people jumping out the windows from the balcony at the top, people were running around everywhere.
Raza Nowsin
A spokesperson from the London Fire Brigade said: “Firefighters have been called to a flat fire on Tollgate Road in Beckton.
“The first floor and second floors of the residential block are alight. The staircase from the first to the second floor is also alight. The Brigade was called at 5.24pm.
“Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from East Ham, Plaistow, Barking and surrounding fire stations are at the scene. The cause of the fire is not known at this time.”
A Met Police spokesperson said: “Police were called at approximately 17:28hrs on Thursday, 6 April to reports of a fire at a block of flats in Tollgate Road, E6.
“Police, LAS and LFB are currently at the scene dealing with the fire.
“It is believed that there has been one fatality and number of others injured. No further details at this stage.
“Enquiries into the cause of the fire are ongoing. A road closure is in place on Tollgate Road and restriction are in place on Bradley Stone Road and Valiant Way, E6.”