A 54-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after a restaurant fire in north London on Friday.
Three people were taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition after the fire at the Indian Aroma in Ilford.
Two remained in a critical condition on Sunday morning, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The restaurant suffered extensive damage in the blaze.
Two further victims are thought to have left the scene before officers arrived.
Police are still trying to identify them.
“While we have made two arrests, our investigation continues at pace so we can piece together what happened on Friday evening,” said Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers of the Met’s Central Specialist Crime North unit.
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“I know the community are concerned and shocked by this incident.
“I would urge anyone with any information or concerns to come forward and speak to police.”
Hospital porter Edward Thawe went to help along with his son after hearing screams from his nearby home.
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He described the scene as “horrible” and “more than scary and the sort of thing that you don’t want to look at twice”.
He said: “I heard screaming and people saying they had called the police.”
The 43-year-old said he saw a woman and a severely burned man who may have been customers.
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Another witness, who did not want to be named, said he saw three “severely burned” people being doused by the emergency services and given oxygen.
“I can only imagine the pain they were going through,” he said.
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