Deptford fire: Death of seven-year-old in house fire being treated as murder, police say

Detectives have 'no idea what the motive for this attack was' and no suspects have been arrested

The death of a seven-year-old boy in a house fire in southeast London is being treated as murder, police said.

Joel Urhie died in a "suspicious" blaze in Deptford on Tuesday morning.

Officers initially said they were treating the fire as arson but on Tuesday afternoon confirmed a murder investigation had been launched.

Joel died in a house fire in the early hours of Tuesday morning (PA)

Joel's mother, Sophie, and sister, Sarah, managed to escape the fire by jumping from the first floor of the property shortly before emergency services arrived.

They were later taken to a central London hospital to receive treatment, although their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Detective Superintendent Jane Corrigan, of Lewisham Police, said officers had "no idea what the motive for this attack was" and no suspects have been arrested.

Appealing for information, she said: "An innocent seven-year-old boy has lost his life in what should have been the safest place for him, his home.

"We're treating this as a murder investigation. We believe that the fire was started deliberately but at this stage I am unable to go into any further detail due to operational reasons."

Authorities are treating the fire as an arson attack (PA)

Joel's father, John Urhie, said: "He was a very lovely boy who was just loving life and it's a terrible loss.

"He played with everyone around here. He was a very nice looking boy.

"It's terrible, the pain we can never forget."

Six fire engines and around 35 firefighters tackled the blaze in Adolphus Street after they were called at 3.25am on Tuesday.

Nearby properties were evacuated as a precaution and crews brought the fire under control just before 4.50am.

Police at the home in Adolphus Street, Deptford (PA)

Kayla McClellan, who lives next door to the property, said: "I just woke up to screaming and when we opened the door a wall of fire came through the front and we immediately closed it and went out through the back."

Next-door neighbour Andre Pavanello, said he heard "really, really loud screaming".

"As I came out here I heard screaming and the front of the window smashed.

"I think they had to smash the window to get out and they had to jump out because the fire was getting too big."