A murder investigation is under way after a 48-year-old woman died in a fire in west London.<\/p>\n
Officers were called to a residential address on Berkeley Avenue, Hounslow, at about 01:15 BST on Wednesday following reports of the blaze, the Metropolitan Police said.<\/p>\n
Six men and three women were taken to hospital, where the 48-year-old woman died. Another woman, 40, is in a life-threatening condition.<\/p>\n
The Met said no arrests had been made but officers believed the fire may have been started deliberately. Det Ch Insp Neil John said: “Our inquiries are progressing at pace as we work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the fire.”<\/p>\n
John said the force’s thoughts were “first and foremost with the victim’s family and loved ones at this extremely difficult time, as well as everyone who has been injured”.<\/p>\n
The remaining seven people have been discharged after receiving treatment for minor injuries.<\/p>\n
John said the force understood the incident to be isolated to a residential address, but officers would remain in the area and provide updates as the investigation continues.<\/p>\n
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 01:18 BST today to reports of a fire on Berkeley Avenue, Hounslow.<\/p>\n
“We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast-response car, an incident response officer and paramedics from our hazardous area response team.<\/p>\n
“We treated nine patients and took them all to hospital.”<\/p>\n
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