Josephine Smith died from smoke inhalation
(Picture: Met Police)A family has issued a desperate appeal after a grandmother was killed in a fire at her home.
Three teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murder and police said a firework was recovered at the scene of the blaze.
Josephine Smith, 88, was pronounced dead at the scene after police officers were called by the London Fire Brigade at 10.17pm last Thursday to the fire on Queens Park Road in Romford.
A post-mortem gave her cause of death as smoke inhalation.
Three teenagers - a man in his late-teens and girl in her late-teens and a boy in his mid-teens - were arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday.
They have all been bailed to return on a date in late November.
Her son Alan Smith said on Facebook: “This was my mum. Josie Smith.
“Such a sad time.
“If anyone saw anything particularly anyone messing around with fireworks last Thursday 28th. No matter how small please come forward. Thank you.”
DCI Linda Bradley from the Met’s Specialist Crime, said: “This is a very sad case and we are supporting Mrs Smith’s family and keeping them fully updated on the current status on our inquiry.
“We are looking into all the circumstance of this fire and speculation before we know all the facts is unhelpful.
“We currently await the outcome of forensic enquiries and other lines of investigation, but if anyone has any information then I would ask them to contact police immediately.”
Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to the incident room on 020 9358 1010 or phone 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Please quote CAD 8170/28OCT
