A 16-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of murder after a fire in Beckton has been bailed by police “pending further enquiries”.
The boy was taken into custody after a 14-year-old girl, named locally as Tiffany Regis, died in the blaze in Tollgate Road on Thursday (April 6).
Police confirmed that a post-mortem examination and formal identification of the victim would begin this evening (April 8).
Officers are continuing to appeal for information as they investigate the tragic death. The fire is being treated as arson.
Emergency services were called to the block of flats in Tollgate Road at around 5.30pm.
One girl died at the scene and five others at the address were injured. They have since been discharged from hospital.
Witnesses said they watched people jump from windows onto a mattress to escape the fire.
Neighbour Inga Tilvikiene said: “First a small boy, four or five years old, jumped… Two guys found an old mattress. About six or seven people [jumped on it].
“One girl just jumped onto the floor, you could see yesterday she was bruised.”
A card next to flowers placed on the pavement outside the block of flats said: “Tiffany we love you”.
A message inside added: “So sorry for your loss. We are praying and thinking of you at this difficult time. We are always here for you no matter what.”
A 16-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of murder following the incident. The boy was subsequently bailed to a date in early May pending further police enquiries.
Chief Superintendent Simon Crick from the Metropolitan Police said: "My thoughts at this time are with the victim and their family and friends.
“Incidents such as these send shockwaves through our communities and I don’t underestimate the impact this will have in the local area and beyond.
"Your officers will be on patrol in the immediate vicinity over the Easter Weekend, please talk to them if you have any concerns."
Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said: “We are at the very early stages of our investigation and are still keen to hear from anyone who has information but has not yet spoken with police.”
A crime scene and safety cordons remain in place in Tollgate Road.
Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting 5315/6APR.
To remain anonymous, members of the public can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit Crimestoppers-uk.org.
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