Ilford Restaurant Fire Leaves Three Fighting for Their Lives in Suspected Arson Attack

A suspected arson attack at a popular restaurant in Ilford has left three people in a life-threatening condition, police have confirmed. The fire broke out shortly after 9 p.m. on Friday at Indian Aroma on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill, sending shockwaves through the local community.

Emergency services reported that five people—three women and two men—suffered injuries in the blaze. All of the victims were treated at the scene by paramedics from the London Ambulance Service before being rushed to hospital for further care.

Eyewitness Edward Thawe, a 43-year-old hospital porter who lives nearby, said he ran to the scene with his son after hearing desperate screams.

He described the incident as “horrible” and “more than scary,” recalling the moment he saw a severely burned man and a woman who appeared to be among the victims. “I heard screaming and people saying they had called the police,” Thawe added.

The London Fire Brigade confirmed that nine other people managed to escape before firefighters arrived. Crews worked quickly to bring the blaze under control, while investigators now focus on establishing the exact cause.

So far, no arrests have been made, but police are treating the fire as a suspected arson attack. Authorities continue to appeal for information as they piece together the circumstances surrounding the devastating incident.