A suspected arson attack at the Indian Aroma restaurant in Ilford, north-east London, has left five people injured, with three in a life-threatening condition, and caused significant damage to part of the restaurant’s ground floor. The fire broke out shortly after 9pm on Friday, when CCTV footage appeared to show a group of individuals, their faces obscured, entering the premises and pouring liquid onto the floor before igniting the blaze.

Firefighters were quick to respond, rescuing five people from inside the restaurant, while nine others escaped before the fire brigade's arrival. The injured were treated at the scene by paramedics and subsequently taken to hospital. Authorities, including the Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade, launched an urgent investigation into the cause of the fire, treating it as a suspected arson. No arrests have yet been made.

Local witnesses described the scene as terrifying. Sayed Bokhari, a businessman in the area for 15 years, likened the incident to a "Halloween scene," recounting how he saw a man running from the restaurant with his clothes on fire, surrounded by frantic activity. Bokhari said the restaurant manager was visibly distraught, expressing deep shock and fear at the event. The unsettling nature of the attack has heightened fears among local business owners, who feel vulnerable given the open and welcoming nature of their premises, and the limits of existing security measures.

Eyewitness accounts painted a grim picture of the aftermath. Edward Thawe, a hospital porter, described how he and his son came outside after hearing screams, witnessing emergency services attending to severely burned individuals. He noted that one man’s entire upper body appeared burnt while still wearing his trousers. Another local resident reported seeing severely injured people being administered oxygen, emphasising the intense suffering caused by the attack. Both witnesses emphasised the traumatic impact of the incident on the community.

The police have set up a substantial cordon around the site, with forensic officers conducting careful examinations. Evidence including a trail of what seemed to be bloody footprints and various items collected in plastic carriers are part of the ongoing investigation. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers from the Metropolitan Police’s Central Specialist Crime North unit acknowledged community concerns and assured that specialist detectives are working rapidly to piece together the sequence of events. He urged anyone with information to come forward.

This incident is part of a worrying trend of violent attacks impacting businesses and communities in London, adding to local anxieties about safety in public spaces. While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, the Metropolitan Police’s robust response and forensic efforts indicate the seriousness with which they are treating the case. The local community continues to grapple with the trauma, hoping for swift justice and measures to prevent such harrowing events in the future.

📌 Reference Map:

Source: Noah Wire Services