Witnesses told how residents in the square held out sheets as they cried out for the trapped family to jump for their lives
THIS is the shocking moment a suspected arson blaze ripped through a London home this morning leaving one woman dead.
Horrified neighbours today claimed the fire could be a targeted "gang hit" after mopeds were seen "speeding away" from the scene as the house erupted in flames.
The occupants, believed to be a married couple, were forced to jump out of the townhouse window in Woolwich, South London, to escape the flames but missed sheets which were held out by others living in the square.
Footage of the fire can now be revealed by The Sun Online, with people heard yelling "get help" as the fatal blaze took hold of the home in the early hours of the morning.
Police have since ruled the fire as a suspected arson attack after a woman, aged in her late 40s, was found dead inside the home by firefighters.
She is believed to have been a family member visiting the couple from Africa. Her next of kin have been informed.
The fire comes after a seven-year-old boy Joel Urhie was killed in a fire that ripped through his family's Deptford home last month.
Investigators are said to have established the August blaze was started with an accelerant.
Recounting last night's fire, one witness said he was woken up at 1.21am when he heard a window being smashed in the square.
He told The Sun Online: “It was like they had thrown a petrol bomb. The flames went from the bottom floor to the top floor in less than five minutes.”
A man in his sixties and a woman in her fifties - believed to be the couple - were rushed to hospital for treatment. Their condition is not serious.
The eyewitness added: "I ride a moped and when I heard the tyres screeching I immediately thought someone is stealing my bike.
"But when I looked out of the window I saw a man wearing grey jogging bottoms sprint and jump on the back of another bike.
"They were both wearing full-face helmets so it was difficult to get a good look at them.
"It was all over so quickly, they were in and out and the next thing I saw was the building on fire.
"It was completely ablaze in a matter of minutes.
"I ran around the back to see if I could try and help but couldn’t get in - it was so frustrating, I felt helpless.”
A woman who lives nearby the now burnt out home told The Sun Online: “Their mum has recently had her door kicked in by people because of some kind of dispute.
"People on the square told me this morning that they saw two young men hovering around last night.
"No one knows why the attackers have done this."
Another visibly-shocked eyewitness today said he saw the flames “spread so quickly”.
Junior Forrester, 55, woke up when he heard a loud bang and screams in the early hours.
He told The Sun Online: “I heard a bang and glass smashing.
“Moments later I then heard a moped speeding off out of the square.
“A couple of minutes later I heard screaming, people were shouting ‘jump, just jump’ - it was terrifying.
“I was directly opposite the fire and saw the flames rise and rise and thought 'oh my God'."
Around 60 firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze in Centurian Square at 1.22am after crews received 23 calls from locals.
Junior added: “Neighbours have told me that the third person was a sister of either the husband or wife and was visiting them from Africa.
“They said she was due to fly back home tomorrow - it’s so sad.
“The neighbours living next door were also telling them to jump and had brought sheets out from their homes to try and catch them.
“But the woman jumped before they were ready and landed on the ground and people have said she broke her leg from the fall.”
Junior said the couple have two sons, one in his 20s and the other in his early 30s.
Another neighbour said she was woken by a loud bang before she heard "blood-curdling screams".
In a statement, Scotland Yard confirmed the fire is being treated as "suspicious".
A spokesperson said: ";Enquiries in the full circumstances continue. Local CCTV footage will be reviewed and detailed forensic tests carried out.
"A crime scene remains in place and the Homicide and Major Crime Command have been made aware of this incident."
The ground, first and second floors of the property were all damaged by the fire, which was under control at 3.12am.
This is the third fatal fire to take place in London in the last week.
Detectives are keen to hear from anyone in the area - including local residents - who heard or saw anything suspicious before or after the fire started.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 380/06SEP or Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.
You can also tweet police via @MetCC.
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