Daijiworld Media Network – London

London, Aug 25: A 15-year-old boy and a 54-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire tore through an Indian restaurant in east London, leaving five people injured, two of them critically.

The Metropolitan Police said the blaze broke out at the Indian Aroma restaurant on Woodford Avenue, Gants Hill, Ilford, around 9 pm on Friday. Three women and two men, believed to be diners, sustained serious burn injuries. Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service treated them at the scene before transferring them to hospitals. A man and a woman remain in life-threatening condition.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers of the Met Police’s Central Specialist Crime North unit said, “While we have made two arrests, our investigation continues at pace so we can piece together what happened on Friday evening. I know the community is shocked and concerned. I urge anyone with information to come forward.”

The suspects remain in police custody on charges of arson with intent to endanger life. Police also revealed there may be two additional victims who left before officers arrived.

Witnesses reported hearing loud screams, while CCTV footage allegedly shows a group wearing face coverings entering the restaurant and pouring liquid on the floor before the fire erupted.

The London Fire Brigade confirmed that part of the ground-floor restaurant was severely damaged. Firefighters in breathing apparatus rescued five people, while nine others escaped before crews arrived.

The restaurant, managed by Rohit Kaluvala, is known for its award-winning Indian cuisine and regular clientele including film crews, business groups, and cultural organisations.

The London Fire Brigade and police continue to investigate the cause of the blaze.