Tributes to family killed in suspected arson attack
The family, named by friends as Sabah Usmani and her sons Sohaib, 13, and Rayan, six, 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, nine, and daughter Maheen, three, were rescued and taken to hospital in critical condition, but Muneeb later died at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Maheen remains in a critical condition and has been transferred to a specialist burns unit at the Broomfield Hospital.
A man — thought to be the children’s father, Abdul Shakour — has been treated for minor injuries.
Parvez Hamid, 43, and Safia Anwar, 38, have known the couple since they moved to the area.
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.
Both parents were doctors. Abdul Shakour worked at the Princess Alexandra Hospital while Ms Usmani cared for the children.
Ms Anwar said: “They were a wonderful family. The children were best friends with our own.”
Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson said: “At this time we are investigating to see whether this fire was started deliberately and need anyone with information to contact us.”
A car was also found alight a short distance from the house. The vehicle was not connected to the family but the fire is also being treated as arson.
