East Ham fire: Vigil held after three children die

Friends, neighbours 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 ripped through the family’s terraced house on 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 have been a lot of tears, people were visibly upset. It has been a sad, solemn day for a lot of people here.”

Imam Juneja, who is part of the Newham Muslim Forum added: “The family are very well known in the community and, as you can see, it’s a very mixed community. But everyone has come together like family, and people are really supporting each 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 damaged the ground floor and half of the first floor of the house.

The cause of it is being investigated, but there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.

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

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

“In my faith, nothing can separate us from the love of God and the way people have gathered here together has shown 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 from the Met Police said: “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected. I reiterate that we will do all we can, alongside the London Fire Brigade, the local authority and other partners, to provide the family and local community with support and answers to their questions.”