A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a mother and three of her children were killed in a house fire in north-west London.
Police confirmed on Saturday afternoon that the four people who died in the early hours of the morning in the Stonebridge area of Brent were from the same family.
The children – a girl, 15, and two boys, aged eight and four – and the woman, 43, were pronounced dead at the scene. Two others remain in hospital.
A 41-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and remained in custody, the Met police said.
Reading a statement at the scene in Tillett Close, Stonebridge, Supt Steve Allen, from the Met’s local policing team, said: “I can confirm a woman and three of her children died at the scene.
“A further two members of the same family were taken to hospital and continue to receive treatment.”
He added: “The wider family have been informed, and officers will continue to support them at this incredibly difficult time.
“We remain in the early stages of our investigation. However, one man was arrested outside the house. He remains in custody and is being questioned by officers.”
Officers were called at 1.22am to help the London fire brigade, who were tackling the blaze.
Eight fire engines and about 70 firefighters were sent to the site, the LFB said. Firefighters said the woman and one of the children were rescued from the second floor of the house but were declared dead by air ambulance crews.
The other two children were found inside the property as crews were tackling the fire, and were also declared dead at the scene, the LFB said. The fire was brought under control by about 3.25am.
Two other people, a woman in her 70s and a teenage girl, were taken to hospital by the London ambulance service. Emergency services would remain in the area throughout Saturday, he said.
Mohamed Labidi, a 38-year-old teacher who lives nearby, told the PA Media news agency that he “can’t even look at the house”. He said he knew the woman and called the four who died in the fire “really good people”.
“We used to socialise together. I can’t even look at the house right now,” he said.
A neighbour who did not wish to be named said: “It’s a very distressing time for us and the neighbourhood.
“We’ve all grown up together. We’ve all lived in these houses for 25, 30 years. Everyone knows everyone.
“It was a very big fire. The fire was blazing. It was non-stop. It’s a very tragic time.”
Dawn Butler, the Labour MP for Brent East, said in a post on X that she was “devastated” to see the fatal fire. “My prayers are with the family and friends affected by this very sad tragedy. LFB-Brent worked hard to get it under control, thank you.”
The LFB assistant commissioner Keeley Foster said: “This is an extremely tragic incident, and the thoughts of everyone across the brigade are with those impacted by this incident.
“Our specialist fire investigation unit are working closely with colleagues from the Metropolitan police service to now determine the cause of this fire. We are working closely with our partners to support the community at this very sad time.”
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, posted on X: “This is devastating news and my thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community of the four people who sadly have lost their lives.”
