Boy, 16, charged over Gants Hill restaurant fire

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with six counts of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit arson after a fire injured six individuals at the Indian Aroma restaurant in Gants Hill, Ilford, on August 22. The Metropolitan Police reported that the boy allegedly poured petrol around the premises before igniting the blaze, which left three men and three women hospitalized. One woman suffered severe burns covering her upper body and face, while a man remains in a coma with life-changing injuries. The boy appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court on September 8 and is currently remanded in a youth detention center, with his next court appearance scheduled for October 6 at the Old Bailey. A 56-year-old man arrested on suspicion of arson has been released on bail, and two other 16-year-old boys, also arrested, have been released on bail.

The fire department rescued five people from the restaurant, and nine others escaped before their arrival. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with one likening it to "a scene from Halloween. " This incident raises significant concerns about safety at local dining establishments and the potential for increased security measures.