A 16-year-old boy has been charged with six attempted murders and arson after a fire at an Indian restaurant left two people fighting for their lives.
Six victims were injured in the blaze at the Indian Aroma in Gants Hill, Ilford, east London on Friday, August 22.
A man and a woman both remain in hospital with life-changing injuries.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested yesterday and has today been charged with six counts of attempted murder, as well as arson with intent to endanger life and possession of an offensive weapon.
He will appear at Barkingside Juvenile Court later today.
He is the second 16-year-old boy to be charged with murder in connection with the fire.
A 56-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life on Sunday, August 24. He was later released on bail.
Two more 16-year-old boys were arrested on Friday, September 5, on suspicion of arson with intent to danger life. They were later released on bail.
CCTV footage showed the moment the restaurant, Indian Aroma, went up in flames inside
Met Police officers stand guard outside the restaurant.Two 16-year-olds have been charged with attempted murder
It comes after CCTV appeared 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 was 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.’
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.
Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the fire on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill, Ilford
Firefighters, police and paramedics rushed to the scene and remained to investigate the cause of the fire
Police officersat the scene on August 22 at Indian Aroma where six people were injured in a fire
‘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.’
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.
