Murder probe launched after man killed in fire in north London

Fatal fire: File photo of a fire engine
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
Tom Marshall13 October 2015
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Police have launched a murder probe after a man died in a fire which engulfed a flat in north London.

David McKenna, 55, died after becoming trapped in a burning flat in Barnet in the early hours of Monday.

Mr McKenna was pronounced dead at the scene at 6.51am after firefighters had pulled his body out of the ground floor flat in Finch Close. No one else was injured in the fire.

Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are now investigating and have called for witnesses to come forward.

DCI Andy Chalmers said: "I would like to speak with anyone who saw anybody acting suspiciously in the vicinity of Finch Close or near to the flats on Sunday night or Monday morning.

"Not only was Mr McKenna pronounced dead at the scene, but this fire put a number of other people's lives at risk.

“Thankfully, due to the actions of the London Fire Brigade, the blaze did not spread to other homes. Had it done so, we could be investigating more deaths.

"We retain an open mind as to the possible motive for the murder."

Mr McKenna’s family have been informed and no arrests have been made.

A post mortem examination is due to take place at Northwick Park Hospital Mortuary today.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8358 0100 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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