A woman and four young children have died after a house fire in Essex, emergency services said today.
Sabah Usmani and her sons Sohaib (13), and Rayyan (6), as well as 11-year-old daughter Hira, died in their end-of-terrace house in Barn Mead, Harlow, Essex, at about 1am.
A third son, Muneeb (9), and daughter Maheen (3), were rescued by fire crews and taken to hospital in a critical condition, although one later died at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. A fifth remains in a critical condition.
A man - thought to be the children's father - has been treated for minor injuries.
Neighbours raised the alarm after being woken in the early hours. They reported seeing flames and smoke billowing from the house.
A car was also found alight a short distance from the house. This was not connected to the family, who are believed to be of Asian origin; however, the car fire is also being treated as arson.
The house will be forensically examined to find out how the blaze started.
A statement from Essex police said: “The cause of the fire is under investigation and detectives are looking at the circumstances leading up to the fire, and ask that anyone who was in the area of Barn Mead in the early hours of Monday and has any information contacts police at Harlow police station on 101.”
Senior investigating officer Det Supt Rob Vinson said: "This is the still the early stages of our investigation into the tragic deaths of five members of one family — a mother and four of her young children.
"At this time we are investigating to see whether this fire was started deliberately and need anyone with information to contact us."
A joint police and fire service investigation will be carried out to establish the cause of the blaze.
PA