A schoolboy and a 54-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire attack at an Indian restaurant left five people injured.
The five victims – three women and two men – were injured after the fire at the Indian Aroma in Gants Hill, Ilford, east London, at about 9pm on Friday.
Three were rushed to hospital in a life-threatening condition and two of them – a man and a woman – are still fighting for their lives.
The Met Police said in addition to the five people treated at the scene, they believe another two were injured but left before emergency crews arrived.
Two people, a 15-year-old boy and 54-year-old man were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and remain in police custody.
CCTV appears to show a group of people with their faces covered walk into the restaurant before pouring liquid onto the floor. Seconds later, the inside of the restaurant is engulfed in flames.
The footage also appeared to show a man running out of the building with his clothing on fire.
The restaurant suffered extensive damage as the blaze ripped through the building. Nine others got out beforehand, London Fire Brigade said.
Sayed Bokhari, 39, said he had spoken to the manager of the restaurant, adding: ‘He was crying. He was very shocked. He was really crying. He was extremely scared.’
CCTV footage showed the moment the restaurant, Indian Aroma, went up in flames inside
Met Police officers stand guard outside the restaurant on Saturday. Police have made two arrests
Mr Bokhari said: ‘It’s awful and it’s very scary.’
‘It looked like a scene from Halloween. It was a serious, dramatic thing and people were running around him,’ he said, referring to the injured man.
Mr Bokhari, who has run a business in the area for 15 years, said: ‘It is scary because we run retail stores which are welcoming customers in.
‘The doors are open like the doors of your house. We cannot body check everyone to see if they are safe. There is only so much that high street security can do.
‘It is scary. You are worried for people. You are worried about your business.
‘London is not such a fun place any more.’
Hospital porter Edward Thawe, 43, stepped outside his nearby home with his 12-year-old son to see if he could help after hearing screaming.
The police and ambulance were already at the scene, which Mr Thawe described as ‘horrible’ and ‘more than scary and the sort of thing that you don’t want to look at twice’.
He said he thought one man who was on the street and a woman who was also outside may have been customers.
Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the fire on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill, Ilford, at about 9pm on Friday
The cause of the blaze is being investigated by firefighters and the Metropolitan Police
Police officers investigate the scene of the fire on Friday night
Mr Thawe added that the man’s ‘whole body was burnt’, including his shirt, but he was still wearing his trousers.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, of the Met’s central specialist crime north unit, said: ‘While we have made two arrests, our investigation continues at pace so we can piece together what happened on Friday evening.
‘I know the community are concerned and shocked by this incident.
‘I would urge anyone with any information or concerns to come forward and speak to police.’
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Met via 101, quoting 7559/22AUG. If you wish to remain anonymous, speak with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
