## Man in Custody on Suspicion of Murder after Fatal House Fire Claims Four Lives in North-West London
A community in north-west London has been left in shock after a devastating house fire in Stonebridge resulted in the deaths of a mother and her three children. The blaze, which tore through a property on Tillett Close in the early hours of Saturday morning, also left two other family members hospitalised. Police have arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of murder as investigations into the tragedy continue.
Emergency services were called to the home just after 1.20am, where they encountered a rapidly spreading fire. Despite swift action by firefighters and paramedics, the lives of a 43-year-old woman and her children — a 15-year-old girl and two boys aged eight and four — could not be saved. Authorities later confirmed that the victims were found inside the property, with some having been rescued from upper floors before being pronounced dead at the scene.
A further two individuals, described by the Metropolitan Police as a woman in her seventies and a teenage girl, were rushed to hospital by ambulance. Their current conditions have not been disclosed, but police have indicated that both remain under medical care. The family’s next of kin have been informed, and local officers are providing them with support during what police have described as an “incredibly difficult time”.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that a 41-year-old man was detained at the location and remains in police custody while detectives conduct their enquiries. Officers are working alongside specialist fire investigators from the London Fire Brigade to determine how the blaze began. The motive behind the fire and the circumstances leading up to the incident remain under investigation.
Superintendent Steve Allen, representing the police’s north-west London division, offered his condolences to those affected, stating, “Our thoughts are with the family and with the local community, who are understandably deeply affected by this tragedy.” Allen also acknowledged the determination of emergency services who responded to the incident, commending their efforts in extremely challenging conditions.
Neighbours have described their distress at witnessing the incident and the impact the tragedy has had on the community. Mohamed Labidi, a local resident, said the family were “good people” and expressed disbelief at the scene: “We used to socialise together. I can’t even look at the house now.” Another resident, Cecilia Marquis, commented that she felt “numb” after seeing the scale of the devastation, while a neighbour who did not wish to be named described the fire as “non-stop” and “very tragic.”
In response to the incident, Brent Council has established a rest centre in the area to support affected residents, particularly those evacuated from nearby homes for safety reasons. Councillors and community leaders are working to provide assistance and reassurance to those impacted.
Local MP Dawn Butler took to social media to express sympathy for the family and friends of the victims, describing the fire as a “heartbreaking tragedy.” Fire officials have also issued statements of condolence and reaffirmed that a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
Eight fire engines and approximately 70 firefighters were deployed to tackle the blaze. The London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner Keeley Foster described the incident as “extremely tragic,” noting that specialist teams are collaborating closely with police as enquiries progress.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the fire, or who witnessed anything suspicious in the area during the early hours of Saturday, to come forward. The police can be contacted via 101, quoting reference CAD 509/24May, or information can be given anonymously through Crimestoppers.
As the investigation continues, both the community and wider city await answers, hoping for clarity over a tragic event that has left a family mourning and a neighbourhood reeling.