A man who lost his wife and four children in a suspected arson attack on their home “fought hard to save his family in appalling conditions”, police said today.
Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge made the comments as he revealed that he was “significantly” stepping up patrols around the immediate area of the house to reassure the public who he said held the key to the circumstances surrounding the fire.
He said that Dr Abdul Shakour, 45, a hospital consultant, was suffering from smoke inhalation and the “severe shock” after escaping the blaze that killed his wife and four of his five children.
He is said by neighbours to have escaped through an upstairs window of the home. He is not believed to be a suspect.
Assistant Chief Constable Gary Beautridge said: “In the history of Essex Police, seldom has there been an incident of this gravity, in which five people, four of them children, have lost their lives.”
The Head of the Essex and Kent Serious Crime Directorate said his sympathies, and those of the force, were with Mr Shakour.
The family are originally from Karachi, Pakistan, but had lived for more than a decade in Saudi Arabia before moving to Manchester and later Harlow.
Our sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the grieved family on this terrible tragedy perpetuated by the extremists of the society. All the peace loving people should raise their voices against this injustice of some extremists taking hostage the whole societies whether in Pakistan or elsewhere. May Allah give solace to the father and family members.