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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mother killed in 'arson' attack | Mother killed in 'arson' attack |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A mother has died and her 17-month-old son is critically ill in hospital after a suspected arson attack at a flat in Southwark, south-east London. | A mother has died and her 17-month-old son is critically ill in hospital after a suspected arson attack at a flat in Southwark, south-east London. |
| Neighbours rescued the boy but were unable to save his mother from the burning building early on Sunday. | Neighbours rescued the boy but were unable to save his mother from the burning building early on Sunday. |
| Fire crews brought the woman out of the fourth-floor flat in Weston Road, but resuscitation attempts failed. | Fire crews brought the woman out of the fourth-floor flat in Weston Road, but resuscitation attempts failed. |
| A 36-year-old man arrested in Southwark a few hours later is being questioned by murder squad detectives. | A 36-year-old man arrested in Southwark a few hours later is being questioned by murder squad detectives. |
| Up to four neighbours forced their way into the flat in Chartham House when the fire broke out just after midnight. | Up to four neighbours forced their way into the flat in Chartham House when the fire broke out just after midnight. |
| They managed to save the boy who suffered serious burns and is being treated in a specialist burns unit. | They managed to save the boy who suffered serious burns and is being treated in a specialist burns unit. |
| 'Forceful banging' | |
| Police said the woman, thought to be in her late 30s, died at the scene. | Police said the woman, thought to be in her late 30s, died at the scene. |
| One neighbour, Susan Howard, from Elim Estate, said: "I heard an argument taking place and I thought it was my neighbours because it sounded so close. | |
| "It was an argument with a young girl and I heard forceful banging on the door and I heard her crying, 'Help, help, help, let me out.'" | |
| "I have never heard a woman screaming so much. She was hitting that door really, really hard - it sounded like she was trapped," she added. | |
| London Fire Brigade said 25% of the flat was damaged in the fire. | London Fire Brigade said 25% of the flat was damaged in the fire. |
| Det Ch Insp Carl Mehta said: "We are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen anyone leaving the block around this time, or any vehicle arriving or departing. | Det Ch Insp Carl Mehta said: "We are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen anyone leaving the block around this time, or any vehicle arriving or departing. |
| "We also ask anyone who may have heard or seen a disturbance at the address to come forward." | "We also ask anyone who may have heard or seen a disturbance at the address to come forward." |