"He was fully on fire."
A 15-year-old boy was arrested following a suspected arson attack at an east London restaurant that injured at least five people.
The blaze broke out at Indian Aroma on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill, Ilford, on the evening of August 22.
Three women and two men were taken to hospital after flames engulfed the building at around 9 pm.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 15-year-old boy and a 54-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
Two victims, a man and a woman, remain in a life-threatening condition.
Firefighters spent 90 minutes bringing the blaze under control.
Dina Michael, who witnessed the incident, told BBC: “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.”
He added that the man “had a Deliveroo bag on”, while other injured people were customers at the restaurant.
Local resident Edward Thawe said he saw one of the injured men whose “whole body was burnt”.
Another neighbour said he witnessed three “severely burned” people being treated by emergency services and given oxygen.
The Met Police said it believed two further people had been injured but left the scene before emergency services arrived. Efforts are underway to identify them.
Nine other people managed to exit the building before firefighters arrived.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers said: “While we have made two arrests, our investigation continues at pace so we can piece together what happened on Friday evening.
“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 two arrested remain in police custody.
The London Fire Brigade said it is continuing to investigate the cause of the fire.
A spokesperson said: “We were called at 9:02 pm to reports of a fire at a restaurant on Woodford Avenue in Gants Hill. Part of the ground-floor restaurant was damaged by fire.
“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued five people from the restaurant.”
“They were all taken to the hospital by the London Ambulance Service. Around nine further people were able to leave the restaurant before firefighters arrived.”
Indian Aroma, managed by Rohit Kaluvala, describes itself as a restaurant dedicated to serving the “authentic flavours of India”.
Its website highlights that it caters to “movie executives, film and television crews, religious and cultural events, charity and business events” and is “highly known for both its first-rate customer service and its high-quality, distinctive Indian cuisine served with its authentic recipes”.
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