One decade later: Essex Police renewed appeal after fatal fire in Harlow
Six members of the same family were killed in the blaze exactly one decade ago... but investigations continue
Essex Police are still trying to work out exactly what and who caused the fatal fire in Harlow - one decade on.
At around 2AM on October 15, 2012, the force was called to a large fire at a home in Barn Mead - which later was found to have killed six members of the same family.
Dr Abdul Shakoor lost his wife, Dr Sabah Usmani and their children - daughters Hira, 12 and Maheen, 3 and their sons Sohaib, 11 Muneeb, 9 and Rayyan, 6 in the blaze.
Shortly after the fire, detectives said the fire was started deliberately - with a Ford Focus located on fire nearby too. That car was not connected to Dr Shakoor or any of his family members.
Following the set-up of a murder investigation by the force, it's now turned into one of their largest enquiries - which is still ongoing ten years later under the name 'Operation Shakespeare'.
Despite seven people initially being arrested back then after initial enquiries, these were released without any further action.
However, detectives are still on the pursuit to find who did it - and are following a number of leads.
Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe from Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: “This was one of the most tragic events in Essex Police’s history, where a man lost his entire family.
"The pain Dr Shakoor has experienced is unimaginable and has been intensified due to the fact he has never had answers, and no one has ever been held responsible for this tragedy.
“This has been an extensive investigation so far, with hundreds of hours of CCTV being reviewed and over 500 witness statements taken.
“No investigation is ever closed, but with cold cases, they are reviewed at the one year, a five year and a ten-year mark.
"The point we’re at now is a ten-year review, where as the newly assigned senior investigating officer, I will be reviewing what has been done so far and identifying any opportunities of progression.
“Our goal is still the same now as it was ten years ago and that is to get justice for Dr Shakoor and his family.
“I know that there are people out there who know what happened that night and these people could be the key to getting justice for a family including children, whose lives were cruelly taken away so early.
“Having policed Harlow for many years, I know that this is a community who want justice for this family.
“Any information, no matter how small could help us and if you know something that you weren’t in the position to disclose back then, please contact us.”
What's been called an 'absolute tragedy' for the Shakoor family has yet to result in firm leads for the force - who continue in their investigations - with Operation Shakespeare.
One person in particular Essex Police say they're looking to identify is a white man in his late teens /early 20s on a bicycle in the area when the house and a car were set alight back on that night in 2012.
They also want the person who left a piece of paper about the investigation on a shelf in the Boots store in Harlow in November of the same year to get in touch.
With Operation Shakespeare reaching the 10-year mark, they have revealed one hypothesis is that it was caused - initially - as the result of a burglary, as a black Toshiba Satellite laptop was stolen from the house.
It's never been found, however the laptop bag and lead were recovered close to the scene.
DCI Metcalfe added: “Whilst I appreciate the amount of time that has passed, any information about these lines of enquiry, or anything else about this tragedy would benefit our investigation.
“You do not have to report directly to us, you can always call Crimestoppers or contact them via their website. We have also set up a link on our Major Incident Public Portal, so that the public can submit written information.”
You can get in touch with the force on 101, their online portal or anonymously via Crimestoppers on their website of on 0800 555 111.
You can find out more about this unsolved case here.
You can see a list of Essex Police's active investigations here.