Monday, September 26, 2011

Six killed in a house fire in London–two teenage girls their mother and three younger siblings

 

house fire in Sonia Gardens, Neasden, north London killed six people

 

Hundreds of pupils at Crest Academy gathered for the special assembly on Monday morning to pay tribute to Hanin Kua, 14, and her sister Basma, 13, who died when a blaze swept through their home at the weekend.

Bev Bell, principal of Crest Academy, said:  ‘It's more really a memorial ceremony if you like, but we understand that there are going to be hundreds of girls deeply emotionally upset by this so we want to give them an opportunity to grieve again.’

Pupils and staff paid tribute to the ‘popular, caring and diligent’ sisters who were killed alongside their mother Muna Elmufatish, 41, nine-year-old sister Amal and brothers Mustafa and Yehya, aged five and two.

Their father, 51-year-old Bassam Kua, and his daughter Nur, 16, were taken to hospital after the fire and are continuing to receive treatment for their injuries.

The fire is being treated as 'non-suspicious' by the authorities, while a family friend has been quoted by the Daily Mail as saying the house was burned out by their fridge.

Bassam is said to have told the friend he witnessed smoke coming from the appliance shortly before the fire swept the semi-detached property.

The news follows recent warnings by the London fire brigade of faulty fridges - some of which were recalled by a major manufacturer earlier this year.

Firefighters stand in tribute to the six people killed by the fire in Neasden Firefighters stand in tribute to the six people killed by the fire in Neasden (Picture: PA)

'There's no doubt, this is an absolute tragedy,' said local station manager Glen Gorman, who attended the scene.

'My thoughts, and those of my colleagues at the London Fire Brigade, are with the friends, family and loved ones of those affected at this extremely sad and difficult time.

'We are now working with the police to ensure a full and thorough investigation is carried out.'

Mr Gorman praised the work of his men, saying they had battled 'some very, very difficult conditions' and ensured the fire did not spread to next door properties, which could have caused further injuries.

 

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