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| Harlow house fire police find no accelerant at scene | Harlow house fire police find no accelerant at scene |
| (4 months later) | |
| Investigators have been unable to find traces of any accelerant at the scene of a house fire in Harlow in which a doctor and four of her children died, suggesting it may have been a tragic accident. | Investigators have been unable to find traces of any accelerant at the scene of a house fire in Harlow in which a doctor and four of her children died, suggesting it may have been a tragic accident. |
| But Essex police stressed forensic examination was continuing and they were not ruling out that the blaze, believed to have started in the lounge area, could have been arson. | But Essex police stressed forensic examination was continuing and they were not ruling out that the blaze, believed to have started in the lounge area, could have been arson. |
| Dr Sabah Usmani, 44, and her sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayyan, six, and daughter Hira, 12, died in the fire which broke out in the early hours on Monday. A third son, Muneeb, nine, died later in hospital. A daughter, Maheen, three, remains in a critical condition in a specialist burns unit at Broomfield hospital, Chelmsford. | Dr Sabah Usmani, 44, and her sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayyan, six, and daughter Hira, 12, died in the fire which broke out in the early hours on Monday. A third son, Muneeb, nine, died later in hospital. A daughter, Maheen, three, remains in a critical condition in a specialist burns unit at Broomfield hospital, Chelmsford. |
| The children's father, Dr Abdul Shakoor, 45, who police said had fought hard to save his family, is recovering in the adult burns ward at the same hospital after being transferred there from the Princess Alexandra hospital, where he works, so that he could be nearer his daughter. | The children's father, Dr Abdul Shakoor, 45, who police said had fought hard to save his family, is recovering in the adult burns ward at the same hospital after being transferred there from the Princess Alexandra hospital, where he works, so that he could be nearer his daughter. |
| Essex police said: "Experts have found that to date there is no evidence to suggest that an accelerant was used to trigger the blaze but incident investigators will not be able to draw any final conclusions until the work of the forensic scientists is complete." | Essex police said: "Experts have found that to date there is no evidence to suggest that an accelerant was used to trigger the blaze but incident investigators will not be able to draw any final conclusions until the work of the forensic scientists is complete." |
| Senior investigating officer Det Supt Rob Vinson said: "We know already from the fire service and our own findings that temperatures would have been extremely high, with thick toxic smoke permeating the house. Initial indications show that the fire appears to have taken hold in the lounge area which is at the rear of the property. The ferocity of the blaze has made the forensic work more challenging. | Senior investigating officer Det Supt Rob Vinson said: "We know already from the fire service and our own findings that temperatures would have been extremely high, with thick toxic smoke permeating the house. Initial indications show that the fire appears to have taken hold in the lounge area which is at the rear of the property. The ferocity of the blaze has made the forensic work more challenging. |
| "Naturally local residents are concerned about what happened and this investigation will not end until we have exhausted every line of inquiry." | "Naturally local residents are concerned about what happened and this investigation will not end until we have exhausted every line of inquiry." |
| On Thursday work began on boarding up the end-of-terrace home the family, originally from Pakistan but who moved to the UK in 2009, had lived in since last year. Forensic work at the property was nearing completion, with tests continuing away from the scene. | On Thursday work began on boarding up the end-of-terrace home the family, originally from Pakistan but who moved to the UK in 2009, had lived in since last year. Forensic work at the property was nearing completion, with tests continuing away from the scene. |
| It was thought a funeral for Usmani and the four children could be held in Harlow next week. | It was thought a funeral for Usmani and the four children could be held in Harlow next week. |
| Postmortem examination results announced at an inquest on Wednesday showed they all died of burns and smoke inhalation. Making a fresh appeal for witnesses, police said inquiries continued and the mobile police station would remain near the house for the foreseeable future. | Postmortem examination results announced at an inquest on Wednesday showed they all died of burns and smoke inhalation. Making a fresh appeal for witnesses, police said inquiries continued and the mobile police station would remain near the house for the foreseeable future. |
| Harlow council announced it would open a book of condolence at the town's civic centre for anyone wishing to pay their respects. | Harlow council announced it would open a book of condolence at the town's civic centre for anyone wishing to pay their respects. |
| Anyone with information in connection with the fire is urged to contact detectives at Harlow's major investigation team on 101, email them on SCDappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. | Anyone with information in connection with the fire is urged to contact detectives at Harlow's major investigation team on 101, email them on SCDappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. |
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