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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Harlow fire deaths: Funeral for Shakoor family held | Harlow fire deaths: Funeral for Shakoor family held |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The funeral of a doctor and her five children who died in a house fire in Essex has been taking place. | The funeral of a doctor and her five children who died in a house fire in Essex has been taking place. |
| Dr Sabah Usmani and her sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayyan, six, and daughter Hira, 13, died in the blaze in Harlow on 15 October. | Dr Sabah Usmani and her sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayyan, six, and daughter Hira, 13, died in the blaze in Harlow on 15 October. |
| A third son, Muneeb, nine, and daughter Maheen, three, both died in hospital. | A third son, Muneeb, nine, and daughter Maheen, three, both died in hospital. |
| Dr Usmani's husband Dr Abdul Shakoor, released from hospital on Friday, is leading the family and community funeral at Harlow Islamic Centre. | Dr Usmani's husband Dr Abdul Shakoor, released from hospital on Friday, is leading the family and community funeral at Harlow Islamic Centre. |
| 'Touches everyone' | |
| The funeral procession left east London for Harlow, before arriving with a police entourage at the centre just before midday. | The funeral procession left east London for Harlow, before arriving with a police entourage at the centre just before midday. |
| Ajaib Hussain, centre chairman, said: "We are all touched by the loss of loved ones. | Ajaib Hussain, centre chairman, said: "We are all touched by the loss of loved ones. |
| "When six members of a family are lost so quickly then it touches everyone, especially when it involves children. | |
| "It is a very emotional day for us." | "It is a very emotional day for us." |
| The six coffins were taken into the centre and laid to rest in a row at the side. Three had wreaths bearing pink roses and white lillies, the other three were adorned with blue and white flowers. | The six coffins were taken into the centre and laid to rest in a row at the side. Three had wreaths bearing pink roses and white lillies, the other three were adorned with blue and white flowers. |
| The size of the funeral cortege was a reminder of the scale of the loss suffered by the Shakoor family. | |
| Six hearses carried the bodies of Sabah Usmani and her five children, a bouquet on each coffin. | |
| Mourners packed into Harlow's Islamic Centre: men and boys in one part of the room, women and girls in another, separated by a screen. | |
| Then uniformed members of the emergency services - fire, police and ambulance - filed in silently. | |
| During the ceremony, the coffins were arranged in formation: Dr Usmani's at the front, with those of her two daughters directly behind, and behind them, those of her two sons. | |
| Afterwards the cortege made the short journey to Parndon Wood Cemetery with mourners, including Dr Shakoor, following on foot as members of the public stood silently by the roadside to pay their respects. | |
| It is understood about 200 mourners were inside the centre, where prayers were said. | It is understood about 200 mourners were inside the centre, where prayers were said. |
| Pay their respects | Pay their respects |
| Those attending included Dr Shakoor's family from Pakistan, teachers and pupils who studied alongside the children, members of the Islamic community and representatives from the emergency services. | Those attending included Dr Shakoor's family from Pakistan, teachers and pupils who studied alongside the children, members of the Islamic community and representatives from the emergency services. |
| Maulana Saleem Nuaab, trustee of the centre, told mourners "whoever comes into this world has to pass from this world". | Maulana Saleem Nuaab, trustee of the centre, told mourners "whoever comes into this world has to pass from this world". |
| Imam Muhammed Saleem led prayers for the family. | Imam Muhammed Saleem led prayers for the family. |
| The service will be followed by a private religious burial at the Parndon Wood Cemetery. | The service will be followed by a private religious burial at the Parndon Wood Cemetery. |
| Members of the public are understood to be lining the route to pay their respects to Dr Usmani and her children. | Members of the public are understood to be lining the route to pay their respects to Dr Usmani and her children. |
| An investigation into the cause of the fire continues. Police have said despite initial concerns the cause of the fire was suspicious, no accelerant for the fire had been found. | An investigation into the cause of the fire continues. Police have said despite initial concerns the cause of the fire was suspicious, no accelerant for the fire had been found. |
| It is believed it started in the lounge area, which is towards the rear of the end-terrace house in Barn Mead. | It is believed it started in the lounge area, which is towards the rear of the end-terrace house in Barn Mead. |