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| Four children and their mother die in suspected arson attack in Essex | Four children and their mother die in suspected arson attack in Essex |
| (10 days later) | |
| A mother and four of her children have died in a suspected arson attack in Essex. | A mother and four of her children have died in a suspected arson attack in Essex. |
| Another child is in a critical condition in hospital after the blaze in Barn Mead, Harlow, in the early hours of Monday. The mother was named locally as Sabah Usmani. Her sons, Sohaib, 13, and Rayyan, six, and 11-year-old daughter Hira also died. All were pronounced dead on arrival at Princess Alexandra hospital. | Another child is in a critical condition in hospital after the blaze in Barn Mead, Harlow, in the early hours of Monday. The mother was named locally as Sabah Usmani. Her sons, Sohaib, 13, and Rayyan, six, and 11-year-old daughter Hira also died. All were pronounced dead on arrival at Princess Alexandra hospital. |
| A third son, Muneeb, nine, and daughter Maheen, three, were rescued by fire crews and taken to hospital in a critical condition but one later died. A man – thought to be the children's father – has been treated for minor injuries. | A third son, Muneeb, nine, and daughter Maheen, three, were rescued by fire crews and taken to hospital in a critical condition but one later died. A man – thought to be the children's father – has been treated for minor injuries. |
| Neighbours raised the alarm after seeing flames and smoke billowing from the house. David Johnson, chief fire officer for Essex county fire and rescue, said the fire was being treated as suspicious because it "developed exceptionally quickly and was exceptionally intense". | Neighbours raised the alarm after seeing flames and smoke billowing from the house. David Johnson, chief fire officer for Essex county fire and rescue, said the fire was being treated as suspicious because it "developed exceptionally quickly and was exceptionally intense". |
| The blaze started downstairs while the family slept upstairs. Johnson said that although it was too early to ascertain the cause of the fire the discovery of a burning car so close to the house was "beyond coincidence", even though it did not belong to the family. He said the father was outside the house when the emergency services arrived at about 1.40am and was helping police with their inquiries, as was normal after such an incident. | The blaze started downstairs while the family slept upstairs. Johnson said that although it was too early to ascertain the cause of the fire the discovery of a burning car so close to the house was "beyond coincidence", even though it did not belong to the family. He said the father was outside the house when the emergency services arrived at about 1.40am and was helping police with their inquiries, as was normal after such an incident. |
| The senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson, said: "This is the still the early stages of our investigation into the tragic deaths of five members of one family – a mother and four of her young children. | The senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson, said: "This is the still the early stages of our investigation into the tragic deaths of five members of one family – a mother and four of her young children. |
| "At this time we are investigating to see whether this fire was started deliberately and need anyone with information to contact us. For the sake of the family, who are trying to come to terms with this tragic incident, I would ask for information from the public, especially in the Harlow area, to help us determine exactly what has happened." | "At this time we are investigating to see whether this fire was started deliberately and need anyone with information to contact us. For the sake of the family, who are trying to come to terms with this tragic incident, I would ask for information from the public, especially in the Harlow area, to help us determine exactly what has happened." |
| Sharon Pavey, who has lived in the house next door for 10 years, said the family had moved to the area recently and she believed the father worked at a hospital. | Sharon Pavey, who has lived in the house next door for 10 years, said the family had moved to the area recently and she believed the father worked at a hospital. |
| "I don't think many people knew them but we are all in shock and this is very sad news," she said. | "I don't think many people knew them but we are all in shock and this is very sad news," she said. |
| Firefighters described the house as being "100% well alight" when they arrived, with flames coming from the front and back doors. Johnson said conditions were punishing, with temperatures reaching over 1000C, and that it had been a harrowing experience for the firefighters. | Firefighters described the house as being "100% well alight" when they arrived, with flames coming from the front and back doors. Johnson said conditions were punishing, with temperatures reaching over 1000C, and that it had been a harrowing experience for the firefighters. |
| "To then save those children and try to resuscitate them, it's going to have a devastating effect on them," he said. "This is a particularly horrendous incident to have to deal with." | "To then save those children and try to resuscitate them, it's going to have a devastating effect on them," he said. "This is a particularly horrendous incident to have to deal with." |
| Mark Wilkinson, the leader of Harlow council, said: "Our heart goes out to the family and friends of those affected by this tragic fire. I know people in the Harlow community will support each other at this time – and the council will also do what it can to support the family and the local community as they come to terms with this loss." | Mark Wilkinson, the leader of Harlow council, said: "Our heart goes out to the family and friends of those affected by this tragic fire. I know people in the Harlow community will support each other at this time – and the council will also do what it can to support the family and the local community as they come to terms with this loss." |
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