An 11-year-old schoolgirl has died and three people were taken to hospital from a block of flats in which chemicals were discovered.
Fatiha Sabrin was found unresponsive at the building on Saturday at about 4pm, the Metropolitan Police said. She was taken to hospital but died a short time later. Fatiha’s death is being treated as unexplained.
Police said that the condition of three other people who reported feeling unwell in the same building in Shadwell, east London, was not known. London Fire Brigade carried out checks on Nida House and found “a quantity of chemicals”. The Met said the chemicals were believed to be used for pest control.
A spokesman said: “They will be safely removed and an investigation will be carried out to determine how they came to be in the building. Other residents were evacuated as a precaution.”
Detectives are investigating but the Met added that it was not being treated as a criminal investigation.
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Sabbir Ahmad, a family friend, told the Daily Mail that Fatiha’s father had been stuck in an airport since the incident happened as he was on a business trip. Describing Fatiha, she said: “She was a very bright girl. She was in my home eight or nine days ago and were discussing her future plans.
“She was very responsive and told me she wanted to be a doctor, and wanted to make something very good of her life. She was also a great writer, she received awards for her writing skills.”
Apsana Begum, Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse, wrote on Twitter: “Tragically this has resulted in one fatality of a young girl, from chemicals found within the building.
“My thoughts and prayers are with her and her loved ones. I am following up to support constituents including everyone who was evacuated.”
A spokesman for the Met Police said: “Other residents in the block were evacuated as a precaution and are being looked after by the local authority.
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“A sweep of the building was carried out by the London Fire Brigade and a quantity of chemicals — believed to be used for pest control — were discovered.
“They will be safely removed and an investigation will be carried out to determine how they came to be in the building.”