Two held after child dies in

A murder inquiry was launched after the 19-month-old girl died in hospital following the blaze in Camberwell, south east London, early on Saturday.

A 27-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were arrested later at an address in south London, Scotland Yard said.

Fire crews used thermal imaging cameras and breathing apparatus as they attempted to rescue five people who were trapped in the building.

The five, who were all related, included two women aged 45 and 23, an 11-year-old girl, a four-year-old boy and the toddler.

They were all found unconscious and suffering from smoke inhalation.

The two women and the boy were in a serious but stable condition in hospital yesterday, while the 11-year-old girl's condition was described as "critical".

The two-bedroom, first-floor flat, in Arnould Avenue, a residential area of Camberwell, was destroyed by the fire.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Rick Murphy said: "This fire has wrecked the lives of those involved and I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact us and help piece together what happened."

A total of eight ambulances and four fire engines tackled the blaze, which is being treated as suspicious following initial investigations by London Fire Brigade and officers.

A post-mortem examination into the toddler's death will take place today.

Next of kin have been informed.