East Ham fire: Vigil held after three children die

Friends, neighbors and community members gathered for a vigil in memory of three children killed in a house fire in east London.

The children died after flames tore through the family’s terraced home in Napier Road, East Ham, on Saturday morning.

About 60 people attended a short service and said prayers for the family outside the property on Tuesday evening.

Local imam Shaqib Juneja, who helped lead the vigil, said: “There were lots of tears, people were visibly upset. It was a sad and solemn day for many people here.”

Imam Juneja, who is part of the Newham Muslim Forum, added: “The family is very well known in the community and as you can see it is a very mixed community. But everyone came together as a family and people really support each other. other.”

One of the children died in the fire and the other two died later in hospital. Two other members of the same family are being treated in hospital, while a sixth family member has been discharged.

Six fire engines and about 40 firefighters were called to the fire, which affected the ground floor and half of the first floor of the house.

The case is under investigation, but there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.

The service was an informal, multi-faith gathering, also led by Rev Dr Sue Lucas, Rector of Holy Trinity Church, East Ham.

Asked how she could console the community, she told BBC London: “On one level, there are no words, but actually presence speaks louder than words.

“In my faith, nothing can separate us from God’s love and the way people gathered here showed that.”

The family has not yet been named and police are working to trace other relatives so they can be informed of the children’s deaths.

Earlier, Det Ch Ins Jonathan Burks of the Met Police said: “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected. I reiterate that we will do everything we can, together with London Fire Brigade, the local authority and other partners, to provide the family and local community with support and answers to their questions.”