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| Harlow fire: police say family could have been unintended target of arson | Harlow fire: police say family could have been unintended target of arson |
| (8 days later) | |
| Police have said they are not ruling out any possibilities as they continue to investigate a suspicious house fire in Essex that left a doctor and four of her children dead. | Police have said they are not ruling out any possibilities as they continue to investigate a suspicious house fire in Essex that left a doctor and four of her children dead. |
| Sabah Usmani, her sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayan, six, and 12-year-old daughter Hira died in their end-of-terrace house in Barn Mead, Harlow, in the early hours of Monday. A third son, Muneeb, nine, and daughter Maheen, three, were rescued by fire crews and taken to the Princess Alexandra hospital in a critical condition, where Muneeb later died. | Sabah Usmani, her sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayan, six, and 12-year-old daughter Hira died in their end-of-terrace house in Barn Mead, Harlow, in the early hours of Monday. A third son, Muneeb, nine, and daughter Maheen, three, were rescued by fire crews and taken to the Princess Alexandra hospital in a critical condition, where Muneeb later died. |
| Maheen was later transferred to Chelmsford's Broomfield hospital, where she remains in a critical condition. Usmani's husband, Abdul Shakoor, a doctor at Princess Alexandra, suffered severe smoke inhalation as he "fought hard to save his family in appalling conditions", police said. On Monday night he was transferred from the hospital where he works to Broomfield in order to be closer to Maheen. | Maheen was later transferred to Chelmsford's Broomfield hospital, where she remains in a critical condition. Usmani's husband, Abdul Shakoor, a doctor at Princess Alexandra, suffered severe smoke inhalation as he "fought hard to save his family in appalling conditions", police said. On Monday night he was transferred from the hospital where he works to Broomfield in order to be closer to Maheen. |
| A spokesman for Princess Alexandra hospital said: "Dr Shakoor wanted to be closer to his only surviving daughter who is still in a critical condition. Dr Shakoor thanked staff for the kindness and support that they have showed him." | A spokesman for Princess Alexandra hospital said: "Dr Shakoor wanted to be closer to his only surviving daughter who is still in a critical condition. Dr Shakoor thanked staff for the kindness and support that they have showed him." |
| Staff at Princess Alexandra have asked to sign a book of condolence and for a multifaith service to be held in the hospital in tribute to Shakoor's family. Shakoor is in severe shock and being comforted by family liaison officers. Police said it would take time before he was able to speak to them in detail about the incident. | Staff at Princess Alexandra have asked to sign a book of condolence and for a multifaith service to be held in the hospital in tribute to Shakoor's family. Shakoor is in severe shock and being comforted by family liaison officers. Police said it would take time before he was able to speak to them in detail about the incident. |
| The Press Association reported that detectives were investigating the possibility that the family were the unintended targets of an arson attack. An Essex police spokeswoman said: "The investigation is continuing. Until we know the cause of the fire, from the forensic work, we can not say for sure for happened. We are not ruling anything in or ruling anything out." | The Press Association reported that detectives were investigating the possibility that the family were the unintended targets of an arson attack. An Essex police spokeswoman said: "The investigation is continuing. Until we know the cause of the fire, from the forensic work, we can not say for sure for happened. We are not ruling anything in or ruling anything out." |
| There had been no previous problems with racism in the area, although there had been earlier arson attacks on cars nearby, police said. A car was found alight a short distance from the house at the same time that the property was ablaze. Police are investigating whether the car fire was a coincidence. Detectives have appealed for witnesses to come forward. Police patrols in Harlow have been stepped up. | There had been no previous problems with racism in the area, although there had been earlier arson attacks on cars nearby, police said. A car was found alight a short distance from the house at the same time that the property was ablaze. Police are investigating whether the car fire was a coincidence. Detectives have appealed for witnesses to come forward. Police patrols in Harlow have been stepped up. |
| Gary Beautridge, assistant chief constable of Essex police, who is in charge of the investigation, described the incident as one of the gravest in the history of the force. The family, originally from Karachi, moved from Pakistan to the UK in 2009, and to Harlow last year. They were said to be well known at Friday prayers, and the children attended local schools. | Gary Beautridge, assistant chief constable of Essex police, who is in charge of the investigation, described the incident as one of the gravest in the history of the force. The family, originally from Karachi, moved from Pakistan to the UK in 2009, and to Harlow last year. They were said to be well known at Friday prayers, and the children attended local schools. |
| Friends and neighbours paid tribute to a "beautiful, well-behaved family". Safia Anwar, 38, said: "The children were best friends with our own. We would see them at mosque and at the school gates. They were just such a lovely family. I last saw Sabah on Friday. She seemed normal with no worries at all." | Friends and neighbours paid tribute to a "beautiful, well-behaved family". Safia Anwar, 38, said: "The children were best friends with our own. We would see them at mosque and at the school gates. They were just such a lovely family. I last saw Sabah on Friday. She seemed normal with no worries at all." |
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