A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after one person, believed to be a woman, died during a fire at a block of flats in east London.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to the blaze on Tollgate Road in Beckton, Newham, at around 5.28pm, along with the London Ambulance Service (LAS) and London Fire Brigade (LFB).
Emergency services are still at the scene and enquiries into the cause of the fire are ongoing, the force said.
A spokesperson for the Met said: “Police, LAS and LFB are currently at the scene dealing with the fire.
“No further details at this stage. Enquiries into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
“One male has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident and enquiries are ongoing.
“A road closure is in place on Tollgate Road and restriction are in place on Bradley Stone Road and Valiant Way.”
An LAS spokesperson confirmed that one person had died, and said five ambulance crews and a helicopter attended the fire.
They added that paramedics treated five people at the scene, who have been taken to hospital.
The spokesperson said: “We sent a number of resources to the scene, including five ambulance crews, two incident response officers, an advanced paramedic, a clinical team manager and members of our tactical response unit and hazardous response team (Hart).
“We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
Deepest thanks to @LFBNewham fire fighters, @MPSNewham and @Ldn_Ambulance for their emergency response efforts. @NewhamLondon officers are working closely with them to support affected residents.
Tollgate Road E6 cordoned off in response to today’s serious incident. https://t.co/hOcs9TcZ2S
— Rokhsana Fiaz OBE (@rokhsanafiaz) April 6, 2023
“We treated five patients before taking them to hospital.
“Sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene.”
The mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, said she was “deeply saddened” by the news and expressed condolences.
She wrote on Twitter: “Deepest thanks to @LFBNewham fire fighters, @MPSNewham and @Ldn_Ambulance for their emergency response efforts.
“@NewhamLondon officers are working closely with them to support affected residents.
“Tollgate Road E6 cordoned off in response to today’s serious incident.”
She added: “We are deeply saddened by the news that there has been one fatality already from the fire that broke out in flats in Beckton.
“Our deepest condolences to loved ones now in mourning.”
