A devastating fire tore through a restaurant in Gants Hill, East London, on Friday night, leaving three people in a life-threatening condition.
Authorities suspect arson as the cause of the blaze that ripped through the venue on Woodford Avenue shortly after 9pm.
Emergency services rushed to the scene in Ilford, where firefighters pulled five individuals from the burning restaurant. Nine others managed to flee before fire crews arrived.
The London Fire Brigade confirmed that the five rescued, three women and two men, sustained serious injuries, including burns and smoke inhalation. All were treated on-site by paramedics and rushed to the hospital. The Metropolitan Police have now confirmed three remain in critical condition.
“We treated five people for burns and smoke inhalation. We took two patients to a major trauma centre and three others to local hospitals,” said a spokesperson from the London Ambulance Service.
Blaze Breaks Out in Busy East London Neighbourhood
Firefighters were alerted at 9.02pm and tackled flames engulfing part of the restaurant’s ground floor. Crews from Ilford, Hainault, Leytonstone and Woodford responded, bringing the blaze under control by 10.32pm.
“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued five people from the restaurant. They were all taken to the hospital by the London Ambulance Service,” said the London Fire Brigade.
The area remained sealed off well into the night as forensic investigators combed through the damage.
A bustling Ilford restaurant turned into a scene of panic and chaos as a suspected arson attack left three critically injured and emergency services battling to save lives.
Investigation Underway Still No Arrests Made
Detectives are now treating the incident as suspected arson. No arrests have been made yet, and authorities are urging witnesses to come forward.
“We understand this incident will cause concern within the community. My team of specialist detectives are working at speed to piece the incident together.
Locals can expect to see a large police presence in the area. If you have any concerns, please speak to those officers on the ground,” said Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers from the Met’s Central Specialist Crime North unit.
MP and Emergency Services Thanked
Ilford North MP and Health Secretary Wes Streeting posted his gratitude to first responders on X (formerly Twitter): “Huge thanks to @metpoliceuk @LondonFire @Ldn_Ambulance for their response to a serious incident on Gants Hill/Woodford Avenue this evening. Please avoid the area for now.”
Huge thanks to @metpoliceuk @LondonFire @Ldn_Ambulance for their response to a serious incident on Gants Hill/Woodford Avenue this evening.
Please avoid the area for now. Further updates will follow from @RedbridgeLive and emergency services.
— Wes Streeting (@wesstreeting) August 22, 2025
Appeal for Information
The Met is calling on anyone with information to help their investigation.
- Contact police via 101, quoting 7559/22AUG
- To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111
The motive behind the suspected attack remains unclear, but both the Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade continue to investigate the circumstances. Residents remain shaken as the community awaits answers.
