A MAN DIED and a second man was critically injured in a fire in Ilford last Tuesday – and police believe they may have been sleeping rough, perhaps with a small number of other people, on scrub land near the southbound carriageway of the A406.
The Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating the fire. Already they have arrested two men on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, murder and attempted murder. One has been charged, while the other, aged 37, remains in custody at an east London police station.
STORY UPDATE: The first man arrested, aged 51, appeared at Barkingside Magistrates Court on Friday. He was charged with murder, attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life. He was remanded to appear at the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday, 25th June. The second man arrested, aged 37, has now been charged with the same offences and was due to appear at Barkingside Magistrates Court today, Saturday, 22nd June.
It was 11.45pm on Tuesday, 18th June when reports came in to the emergency services that a makeshift encampment, little more than a tarpaulin strung up over a surface, was on fire. Aswell as the police, the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service all turned out.
The Fire Brigade found one victim of the fire nearby. He had sustained severe burns. He was taken to the East London hospital, Whitechapel, by ambulance, but he sadly died just hours after being admitted. Police believe he was in his 40s.
The second man, also thought to be in his 40s, was found near the roadside. The London Ambulance Service took him to the specialist burns unit at the Broomfield Hospital, near Chelmsford. He is in a critical condition and is in an induced coma.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Considine, who is leading the investigation, said: “We really need to hear from anyone who knows or think they may know either or both of these men to help us with our investigation. I am particularly appealing to the East European community to come forward, as we think both men may be of Romanian origin.
“We believe that the deceased man may have been called Majea or Manea, but we do not know if this is a first name, surname or even a correct name, while the second man in hospital in Essex might be called Pedro, or Petra, but again we can’t be sure this is right.
“We’ve also been told that both men may well have worked as casual labourers in the east London area of Ilford or Redbridge or Barking and Dagenham, as the area where this fire took place is close to the borough border. Perhaps you employed them, or worked with them?
“If you know anything at all, however insignificant you think it might be, we really need to hear from you as it might be the piece of information that we need to piece together the bits of information we currently have in order to create a fuller picture of what happened.
“We also want to hear from anyone who knows anything at all about how this fire was caused. We know that after it started, two men came out onto the A406 in an attempt to seek assistance from passing drivers.
“Did you see these two men on the verge when you were driving past, or do you have relevant dashcam footage? If so, please contact us – this was a horrific incident which has caused one man to lose his life, and may claim the life of another.”
•Anyone with information should call the police via 101 or ring the incident line number, 020-8345 3865, quoting either Operation Rochefort or 9090/18JUN.
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