Deptford fire: Murder probe after Joel Urhie, 7, found dead in house in south-east London

Tragic death: Joel Urhie
PA
Ella Wills7 August 2018
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A murder probe has been launched after a seven-year-old boy died in a house fire in Deptford.

The Metropolitan Police said it is investigating the blaze and have appealed for information following the death of Joel Urhie.

Detective Superintendent Jane Corrigan, of Lewisham Police, said it is believed that the fire early on Tuesday was started deliberately.

She added that the young boy's mother and sister - who managed to escape the fire at their home - are being treated in hospital, and their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

The boy's father John Urhie today said: "It's terrible, the pain we cannot forget."

Police and forensics officers at the scene of the house fire in Deptford
PA

Appealing for information, she said that Scotland Yard are treating the incident as a murder investigation.

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.

"We have no idea what the motive for this attack was.

"We've got no suspects at this time."

Police and fire investigations officers work at the home on Adolphus Street, Deptford 
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

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 had earlier said that they were treating the incident as suspicious.

Speaking to reporters outside the house he moved out of around five years ago, Mr Urhie described the pain of losing his son.

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

He said he was supposed to see his son on Monday but did not because Joel's mother, Sophie, wanted to take him out.

Describing his son, Mr Urhie, 54, said: "He played with everyone around here. He was a very nice looking boy.

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

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