![\"PA](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/bec2\/live\/8fa759a0-8025-11f0-b1b6-55b80ab19c47.jpg.webp\")
PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFive people have been hospitalised, with three in a life-threatening condition, after a suspected arson attack at a restaurant in east London.<\/p>\n Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to the fire on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill, Ilford, at 21:00 BST on Friday.<\/p>\n Three women and two men were injured in the blaze, and were taken hospital where they remain. A witness said he saw one of the men in the aftermath whose “whole body was burnt”.<\/p>\n The cause of the fire is being investigated by firefighters and the police. No arrests have been made, the Met Police said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Part of the ground floor of the restaurant was damaged by the flames, which were extinguished by 22:30. <\/p>\n The five people who were hospitalised were rescued from the building by fire crews, with about nine others being able to get out of the building before the brigade arrived.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n One witness, hospital porter Edward Thawe, 43, said he saw one of the injured men, whose “whole body was burnt”.<\/p>\n Mr Thawe said he stepped outside his nearby home with his 12-year-old son to see if he could help after hearing screaming.<\/p>\n The police and ambulance were already at the scene, which Mr Thawe described as “horrible” and “the sort of thing that you don’t want to look at twice”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Det Ch Insp Mark Rogers said: “We understand this incident will cause concern within the community. My team of specialist detectives are working at speed to piece the incident together.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who is the MP for Ilford North, posted on X<\/a> his thanks to police, fire and ambulance crews for their response.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n