A murder investigation has today been launched by Scotland Yard after two people died in a house fire in north-east London.
Detectives believe the blaze at the end of terraced home in Walthamstow, thought to have been occupied by squatters, was started deliberately.
The inferno tore through and destroyed the two-storey property on Sunday night with firefighters discovering the bodies of two people inside.
They were pronounced dead at the scene with murder detectives yet to identify two people.
Today, Met Police announced it had launched a murder investigation into the fatal fire on Forest Road.
A murder investigation has today been launched by Scotland Yard after two people died in a house fire in Walthamstow, north-east London
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters raced to the blaze in Forest Road, Walthamstow, last night where two people were pronounced dead at the scene
A passerby at the scene said: ‘Those are all council houses. I heard that it was squatters living there’
It is thought there was an ‘incident’ outside the home before it became engulfed in flames and officers are searching for any doorbell or dashcam footage in the area.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb, leading the investigation for the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: ‘We believe that there may have been an incident outside the address in Forest Road before the fire started and I am very keen to hear from anyone who witnessed something or perhaps has doorbell or dashcam footage.
‘We are working hard to identify the two people who sadly died in the fire, not least so that their families and loved ones can be notified.’
Police were called at 10.42pm on Sunday, April 21 to a report of a fire at a residential address in Forest Road.
Officers attended alongside colleagues from the London Fire Brigade.
DCI Webb added: ‘Two people’s lives have been cut short as a result of this fire. If you have heard something or have information relating to the incident please don’t hesitate to get in touch.’
Forest Road (shown in the map above) was closed off as firefighters fought to get the flames under control
Resident Donna Wiggins claimed that the house’s occupants had been booted out of the property by squatters
Donna Wiggins, who has lived in Walthamstow for 26 years, said yesterday she was close friends with the former residents of the house, who passed away a few years ago.
The 46-year-old claims that the house had been inherited by her friend’s son who was later booted out of the property by squatters.
She said: ‘I used to know the people who lived there. The mother used to be my neighbour.
‘I am not sure who the people who have passed away are. Another person I know said the son had been kicked out by squatters.
‘But I haven’t spoken to him since his mum’s funeral.
‘There was always unsavoury characters coming in and out of that house.’