A 16-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after a suspected arson attack on a restaurant that left six people injured. Fire crews and police Officers raced to the Indian Aroma restaurant in Illford, East London, on Friday, 22 August, after fire erupted at around 9pm. The victims – three women and three men – were injured in the incident. Two of them – a man and a woman – remain in hospital with what the Met police says is life-changing injuries.
Nine other customers were able to get out beforehand, London Fire Brigade (LFB) said in a statement.
A 56-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life on Sunday, 24 August, before being later released on bail.
Two 16-year-old boys were arrested on Friday, 5 September on suspicion of arson with intent to danger life. They were later released on bail.
A further 16-year-old boy was arrested on Saturday, 6 September. The following day he was charged with six counts of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.
He appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court on Monday, 8 September, and was remanded to a youth detention centre.
He will appear at the Old Bailey on Monday, 6 October.