Three arrested on suspicion of murder after fatal fire in Harold Wood

Josephine Smith was found inside the burning building and pronounced dead at the scene (Credit: Metropolitan Police)

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after an elderly woman died in a house fire in Harold Wood. 

Mrs Josephine Smith, 88, died from smoke inhalation following a fire at a residential address in Queen’s Park Road shortly after 10.15pm on Thursday, 28 October. 

Detectives recovered a firework from the scene, however, the cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

A man in his late-teens, a girl in her late-teens and a boy in his mid-teens were all arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday, 30 October. 

They have all been bailed to return on a date in late November. 

Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley, from the Met’s Specialist Crime, said: “This is a very sad case and we are supporting Mrs Smith’s family and keeping them fully updated on the current status of our inquiry.

“We are looking into all the circumstance of this fire and speculation before we know all the facts is unhelpful. We currently await the outcome of forensic enquiries and other lines of investigation, but if anyone has any information then I would ask them to contact police immediately.”

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to contact the Met’s incident room on 020 9358 1010 or phone 101.  Please quote CAD 8170/28OCT.

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at  crimestoppers-uk.org.

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