A 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with a fatal fire that occurred in west London. The suspect was apprehended by Kent Police officers on Sunday while he was in the process of traveling to France by train. He is currently being held in police custody, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Emergency services were first alerted to the blaze at a residential property on Berkeley Avenue in Hounslow at approximately 01:15 BST on Wednesday. The incident resulted in the death of a 48-year-old woman, who passed away after being taken to the hospital. Another woman, aged 40, remains in hospital in a life-threatening condition.
In total, nine individuals were transported to the hospital for medical treatment following the fire. While seven of those patients—consisting of six men and one woman—have since been discharged after receiving care for minor injuries, the investigation into the circumstances of the fire remains active.
Det Ch Insp Neil John, who is leading the investigation, stated: "Our thoughts remain first and foremost with the victim's family and loved ones at this extremely difficult time, as well as everyone who has been injured." He added that detectives are working to build a full picture of the incident and are actively pursuing multiple lines of inquiry.
