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| Beckton blaze: Boy, 16, arrested after girl dies in flat fire | Beckton blaze: Boy, 16, arrested after girl dies in flat fire |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A 14-year-old girl died and five other people were injured in the blaze | A 14-year-old girl died and five other people were injured in the blaze |
| A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 14-year-old girl died in a fire at a block of flats in east London. | A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 14-year-old girl died in a fire at a block of flats in east London. |
| The girl was found in a second-floor flat that was damaged in the blaze in Tollgate Road, Beckton, at about 17:30 BST on Thursday. | The girl was found in a second-floor flat that was damaged in the blaze in Tollgate Road, Beckton, at about 17:30 BST on Thursday. |
| Five people were also injured but have since been discharged from hospital, Scotland Yard said. | Five people were also injured but have since been discharged from hospital, Scotland Yard said. |
| Detectives said they were treating the fire as arson. | Detectives said they were treating the fire as arson. |
| Witness Rahina Begum said the flames "went up very quickly, within a few seconds". | Witness Rahina Begum said the flames "went up very quickly, within a few seconds". |
| Ms Begum, who lives opposite the flats, added: "In 10 to 15 seconds the whole building was on fire, from the bottom to the top. | Ms Begum, who lives opposite the flats, added: "In 10 to 15 seconds the whole building was on fire, from the bottom to the top. |
| "The flames were so high. Somebody dying is so sad." | "The flames were so high. Somebody dying is so sad." |
| Resident Virginia Lusambulu described people in "panic" as they jumped from the burning flats | Resident Virginia Lusambulu described people in "panic" as they jumped from the burning flats |
| A second neighbour, who did not wish to be named, described seeing people jump from the building to try to escape. | A second neighbour, who did not wish to be named, described seeing people jump from the building to try to escape. |
| London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the stairwell from the ground floor to the second floor was destroyed by flames. | London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the stairwell from the ground floor to the second floor was destroyed by flames. |
| It added firefighters discovered the teenage girl in a flat on the second floor, half of which was badly damaged. | It added firefighters discovered the teenage girl in a flat on the second floor, half of which was badly damaged. |
| She was pronounced dead at the scene. | She was pronounced dead at the scene. |
| Resident Virginia Lusambulu said: "It was terrible. It was a big, big fire. | Resident Virginia Lusambulu said: "It was terrible. It was a big, big fire. |
| "Someone said to me that children were jumping from the top... it was panic." | "Someone said to me that children were jumping from the top... it was panic." |
| At the scene | At the scene |
| Harry Low, BBC London News | Harry Low, BBC London News |
| People have been hugging in Tollgate Road at the scene of the fire | People have been hugging in Tollgate Road at the scene of the fire |
| Throughout the day, people have been laying floral tributes close to this small block flats. | Throughout the day, people have been laying floral tributes close to this small block flats. |
| Many of them hug as they do so, visibly upset by what has happened here. | Many of them hug as they do so, visibly upset by what has happened here. |
| Passers-by stop to a look at the largely windowless second floor. | Passers-by stop to a look at the largely windowless second floor. |
| Police forensics teams have been assessing the scene for clues as to what might have caused the fire they are now treating as arson. | Police forensics teams have been assessing the scene for clues as to what might have caused the fire they are now treating as arson. |
| The police cordon has expanded, along with the number of emergency service personnel, as the seriousness with which this is being taken becomes apparent. | The police cordon has expanded, along with the number of emergency service personnel, as the seriousness with which this is being taken becomes apparent. |
| I've seen footage of some people desperate to escape from the top floor of the burning building, jumping onto mattresses laid out on the ground by quick-thinking neighbours. | |
| Tollgate Road is cordoned off and restrictions are in place on surrounding roads | Tollgate Road is cordoned off and restrictions are in place on surrounding roads |
| Six fire engines and about 40 firefighters responded to the call at about 17:25 and had the fire under control just after 18:30, LFB said. | Six fire engines and about 40 firefighters responded to the call at about 17:25 and had the fire under control just after 18:30, LFB said. |
| London Ambulance Service said five ambulance crews and the air ambulance attended the scene. | London Ambulance Service said five ambulance crews and the air ambulance attended the scene. |
| Tollgate Road remains cordoned off and restrictions are in place on surrounding roads. | Tollgate Road remains cordoned off and restrictions are in place on surrounding roads. |
| 'Shockwaves' | 'Shockwaves' |
| Ch Supt Simon Crick said his thoughts were with the girl's family and friends. | Ch Supt Simon Crick said his thoughts were with the girl's family and friends. |
| "Incidents such as these send shockwaves through our communities and I don't underestimate the impact this will have in the local area and beyond," he said. | "Incidents such as these send shockwaves through our communities and I don't underestimate the impact this will have in the local area and beyond," he said. |
| Det Ch Insp Joanna Yorke urged anyone with information to contact the force immediately. | Det Ch Insp Joanna Yorke urged anyone with information to contact the force immediately. |
| Detectives are treating the incident as arson | Detectives are treating the incident as arson |
| The cause of the fire is being investigated by LFB and Met Police. | The cause of the fire is being investigated by LFB and Met Police. |
| LFB's borough commander for Newham, Richard Arnold, said crews would remain in the area and offer support and advice to residents. | LFB's borough commander for Newham, Richard Arnold, said crews would remain in the area and offer support and advice to residents. |
| "This was a very tragic incident and our crews who attended the scene are receiving support from our counselling and trauma service," he added. | "This was a very tragic incident and our crews who attended the scene are receiving support from our counselling and trauma service," he added. |
| Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| London | London |
| Beckton | Beckton |