Fresh appeal launched 13 years after fire claimed the lives of family in Harlow
Only one person survived.
13 years after a devastating house fire in Harlow killed six members of one family, police say they are as determined as ever to bring those responsible to justice.
The fire broke out just after 1.40am on 15th October 2012 at the home of Dr Abdul Shakoor on Barn Mead.
Dr Shakoor was the only survivor. He lost his wife, 44-year-old Dr Sabah Usmani, and their five children - Hira, 12 , Sohaib,11, Muneeb, 9, Rayyan, 6 , and Maheen, 3.
That night, a silver Ford Focus was set alight close to the family’s terraced home, while flames and smoke quickly engulfed the house. Dr Shakoor managed to escape by jumping from an upstairs window, but tragically, his family could not be saved.
Since then, police have carried out a huge investigation, known as Operation Shakespeare.
More than 70 officers and staff have been involved, around five hundred people have given witness statements, and almost two thousand items have been examined.
Despite this, the case remains unsolved.
Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “This is still very much a live investigation and we remain committed to finding who is responsible for this catastrophic loss of life. Dr Shakoor deserves answers, he deserves justice.”
Dr Shakoor says the tragedy haunts him every day and he just wants the wait for answers to end. “It’s never something that leaves your mind, it’s the first thing I think about when I wake up. That night still haunts me and it always will. You just feel so helpless.”
Police believe there are still people who know what happened that night and are urging anyone with information to come forward, no matter how small.
You can contact police via Digital 101, by calling 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.