A teenage girl injured in a fire that killed a mother and three of her children in north-west London on Saturday is in a critical condition in hospital, police have said, as officers continue to question a man suspected of their murders.
A 43-year-old woman, a 15-year-old girl and two boys aged eight and four died at the scene of the fire which gutted two homes in the Stonebridge area of Brent in the early hours of Saturday.
A 13-year-old girl from the same family remains in critical condition, the Metropolitan police said on Sunday afternoon. The force also said a 71-year-old woman from the same family who was also injured in the fire had been discharged from hospital.
A 41-year-old man who was arrested outside the house on Saturday morning remained in custody on Sunday afternoon.
Bunches of flowers and a blue teddy bear were left near to the homes as fire crews wearing helmets and respiratory equipment built scaffolding against the burnt out buildings.
Neighbours said the family are of Pakistani origin and had lived on Tillett Close for years.
Firefighters said the mother and one of her children were rescued from the second floor but declared dead by air ambulance crews.
The other two children who were declared dead were found inside the property as crews tackled the fire, London fire brigade said.
Cecilia Marquis, 60, a neighbour, said she was “stunned by the devastation” of the fire.
Marquis, who is a caterer at Brentford FC and witnessed the fire, said: “This will leave a devastating impact.”
In a statement on Saturday, Supt Steve Allen, from the Met’s local policing team in north-west London, said detectives were leading the investigation into the cause of the fire.
“Despite the efforts of the emergency services, I can confirm a woman and three of her children died at the scene,” Allen said.
“The wider family have been informed, and officers will continue to support them at this incredibly difficult time.
“I recognise the significant impact this incident has had on the community.”
