On Friday evening, August 22, 2025, a devastating fire tore through the Indian Aroma restaurant on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill, Ilford, east London, leaving a community shaken and several families in anguish. The blaze, which authorities are treating as a suspected arson attack, resulted in five people being hospitalized—two of them in critical condition—as emergency services scrambled to rescue victims and contain the inferno that gutted the popular local eatery.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the incident unfolded around 9:00 pm BST, when a group of masked individuals entered the restaurant, poured a liquid—believed to be accelerant—onto the floor, and within seconds, flames engulfed the premises. CCTV footage obtained by the PA news agency and referenced by Sky News and the BBC shows the chilling moment the attack began, with the restaurant rapidly consumed by fire and panic erupting among patrons and staff.
"While we have made two arrests, our investigation continues at pace so we can piece together what happened on Friday evening," Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers of the Met Police’s Central Specialist Crime North unit told Sky News and BBC London. "I know the community [is] concerned and shocked by this incident. I would urge anyone with any information or concerns to come forward and speak to police."
Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene. The London Fire Brigade said they were called at 9:02 pm and mobilized crews from Ilford, Hainault, Leytonstone, and Woodford fire stations. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the burning restaurant and rescued five people, who were then treated by London Ambulance Service paramedics. According to the ambulance service, "We treated five people for burns and smoke inhalation. We took two patients to a major trauma centre and three others to local hospitals." The fire was finally extinguished by 10:32 pm, after 90 minutes of intense effort.
Among the victims were three women and two men, believed to be diners at the restaurant. As of Sunday morning, August 24, two of those hospitalized—a man and a woman—remained in critical, life-threatening condition, as reported by the BBC and Sky News. The remaining three victims were also treated for burns and smoke inhalation. In addition, police believe two further victims may have left the scene before emergency services arrived, and efforts to identify them are ongoing. Nine other people managed to escape the building before firefighters arrived, a detail confirmed by both the Met Police and London Fire Brigade.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the chaos and suffering that unfolded. Dina Michael, who witnessed the blaze, told BBC London, "I turned around and see some guy running like a fireball. He was fully on fire. One of my friends came with a water bucket and we were just trying to put the fire down." Michael added that the man "had a Deliveroo bag on," suggesting he may have been a food delivery worker caught in the attack. Another local resident, Edward Thawe, 43, told Sky News he saw a severely burned man and described the scene as "horrible" and "more than scary and the sort of thing that you don't want to look at twice." He recalled, "I heard screaming and people saying they had called the police." Another unnamed witness reported seeing three "severely burned" people being doused by emergency services and given oxygen, remarking, "I can only imagine the pain they were going through."
As the flames raged, the restaurant—managed by Rohit Kaluvala and known for its dedication to the "authentic flavours of India"—suffered extensive damage, particularly to its ground floor. The London Fire Brigade confirmed that "part of the ground-floor restaurant was damaged by fire." The brigade’s control officers received seven calls about the incident, underscoring the urgency and terror that gripped the area. Neighbours reported hearing "loud screams" as the fire took hold, further highlighting the chaos that erupted on what should have been a routine Friday night.
In the aftermath, police moved quickly to identify and apprehend suspects. By Sunday, August 24, a 15-year-old boy and a 54-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. Both remained in police custody as the investigation continued, with authorities stressing that the probe is moving "at pace." The Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade are jointly investigating the cause of the fire, with CCTV footage and witness statements forming key parts of their inquiry. The two suspects have not been publicly named, and little is known about their possible motives at this stage.
The community response has been one of shock, concern, and gratitude toward emergency responders. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who serves as the MP for Ilford North, publicly thanked the fire services for their swift and courageous action. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, "Huge thanks to @metpoliceuk @LondonFire @Ldn_Ambulance for their response to a serious incident on Gants Hill/Woodford Avenue this evening." Local residents, too, have expressed their appreciation for the efforts of first responders while grappling with the trauma of what they witnessed.
Detective Chief Inspector Rogers reiterated the importance of community cooperation in solving the case: "I know the community are concerned and shocked by this incident. I would urge anyone with any information or concerns to come forward and speak to police." The police have appealed for anyone who may have witnessed the attack, has relevant CCTV or dashcam footage, or knows the identities of the two possible additional victims to contact them as soon as possible.
As the investigation presses on, the Indian Aroma fire stands as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of public spaces to acts of violence and the devastating impact such incidents can have on individuals and communities. The restaurant, once a bustling hub for lovers of Indian cuisine, now bears the scars of an attack that has left two people fighting for their lives and a neighborhood searching for answers. With the suspects in custody and the investigation ongoing, many in Ilford and beyond are hoping for justice—and for healing to begin.
