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PA Media<\/p>\nPA Media<\/p>\n
Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the fire at a restaurant on Woodford Avenue<\/p>\n
Five people have been hospitalised, with three in a life-threatening condition, after a suspected arson attack at a restaurant in east London.<\/p>\n
Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the fire on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill, Ilford, at 21:00 BST on Friday.<\/p>\n
Three women and two men were injured in the blaze, and were taken hospital where they remain. A witness said he saw one of the men in the aftermath whose “whole body was burnt”.<\/p>\n
The cause of the fire is being investigated by firefighters and the police. No arrests have been made, the Met Police said.<\/p>\n
Part of the ground floor of the restaurant was damaged by the flames, which were extinguished by 22:30. <\/p>\n
The five people who were hospitalised were rescued from the building by fire crews, with about nine others being able to get out of the building before the brigade arrived.<\/p>\n
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PA Media<\/p>\n
Det Ch Insp Mark Rogers said people could expect to see large police presence in the area<\/p>\n
One witness, hospital porter Edward Thawe, 43, said he saw an injured man, whose “whole body was burnt”.<\/p>\n
Mr Thawe said he stepped outside his nearby home with his 12-year-old son to see if he could help after hearing screaming.<\/p>\n
The police and ambulance were already at the scene, which Mr Thawe described as “horrible” and “the sort of thing that you don’t want to look at twice”.<\/p>\n
Another Ilford resident, who did not want to give his name, said he saw three injured people being doused by the emergency services.<\/p>\n
He said the people were “severely burned” and that they were being given oxygen.<\/p>\n
He added: “I can only imagine the pain they were going through. It was just an absolutely horrible situation.”<\/p>\n
Uniformed officers guarded the police cordon on Saturday as forensic officers in protective clothing examined the scene.<\/p>\n
Det Ch Insp Mark Rogers 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.<\/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