![\"Woodford](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/skynews-ilford-arson_6998578.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThree people are in a\u00a0life-threatening condition after a suspected arson attack at a restaurant in Ilford, say police.<\/p>\n
Five people – three women and two men – were injured in the fire, which broke out shortly after 9pm on Friday at Indian Aroma on Woodford Avenue, Gants Hill.<\/p>\n
No arrests have been made.<\/p>\n
Hospital porter Edward Thawe, 43, went to help with his son after hearing screams from his nearby home.<\/p>\n
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Image:
\n Woodford Avenue from above. Pic: UK News and Pictures<\/p>\n
He described the scene as “horrible” and “more than scary and the sort of thing that you don’t want to look at twice”.<\/p>\n
He said: “I heard screaming and people saying they had called the police.”<\/p>\n
He said he saw a woman and a severely burned man who may have been customers.<\/p>\n
More on Metropolitan Police<\/p>\n
He said the man’s “whole body was burnt”, including his shirt, but he was still wearing his trousers.<\/p>\n
After being treated at the scene by paramedics from the London Ambulance Service, the victims were taken to hospital.<\/p>\n
![\"Indian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/skynews-ilford-arson_6998575.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Image:
\n Indian Aroma in Ilford after the fire. Pic: UK News and Pictures<\/p>\n
Nine others were able to get out beforehand, London Fire Brigade (LFB) said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“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,” said an LFB spokesperson.<\/p>\n
“We understand this incident will cause concern within the community. My team of specialist detectives are working at speed to piece the incident together,” said Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, of the Met’s Central Specialist Crime North unit.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Read more from Sky News: The London Ambulance Service told Sky News: “We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer and paramedics from our hazardous area response team.<\/p>\n Image: “We treated five people for burns and smoke inhalation. We took two patients to a major trauma centre and three others to local hospitals.”<\/p>\n
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\n Indian Aroma in Ilford after the fire. Pic: UK News and Pictures<\/p>\n