East London flat fire being treated as transphobic hate crime by police
A fire at a flat in Whitechapel, East London, is being treated as a transphobic hate crime by the Metropolitan Police. The fire happened on 14 April just before 06:30am local time at a flat on Whitechapel High Street, with no injuries being reported.
There was a trans woman and a gay man inside the property at the time of the blaze, the Met confirmed. Police are now working with investigators to figure out what caused the fire, which is being treated as suspicious. “We do not tolerate transphobia and are working closely with the London Fire Brigade in Tower Hamlets to extend support to the three victims of what was clearly a very frightening ordeal,” said Acting Ch Insp Dave Hodges.
Despite no arrests being made yet, the Met said it is pursuing “active lines of inquiry”. Anyone with information about the fire has been asked to contact police.
Hate crimes recently reach record highs in England and Wales It was recently announced that recorded hate crimes had reached new highs in England and Wales.
