ESSEX Police officers joined family members and the Harlow community in paying their respects to Dr Sabah Usmani and her five children who died in a fire at their home a decade ago.

The fire started at an address in Barn Mead shortly before 2am on 15 October 2012.

Dr Usmani and daughters Hira, 12 and Maheen, 3 and their sons Sohaib, 11 Muneeb, 9 and Rayyan, 6.

The only survivor was Dr Abdul Shakoor.

Yesterday (Saturday 15 October), Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan and Detective Chief Superintendent Lucy Morris joined Dr Shakoor, representatives from Essex Fire and Rescue Service,  members of the Harlow Ethnic Minority Umbrella, and members of the community to pay respects and a memorial ceremony.

The remembrance service took place at the Harlow Islamic Centre before a moment of reflection at the graveside.

Dr Shakoor then bravely spoke to media, urging anyone with information to do the right thing and come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: ““This was one of the most tragic events in Essex Police’s history, where a man lost his entire family. The pain Dr Shakoor has experienced is unimaginable and has been intensified due to the fact he has never had answers, and no one has ever been held responsible for this tragedy.

“This has been an extensive investigation so far, with hundreds of hours of CCTV being reviewed and over 500 witness statements taken.

“No investigation is ever closed, but with cold cases, they are reviewed at the one year, a five year and a ten-year mark. The point we’re at now is a ten-year review, where as the newly assigned senior investigating officer, I will be reviewing what has been done so far and identifying any opportunities of progression.

“Our goal is still the same now as it was ten years ago and that is to get justice for Dr Shakoor and his family.

“I know that there are people out there who know what happened that night and these people could be the key to getting justice for a family including children, whose lives were cruelly taken away so early.

“Having policed Harlow for many years, I know that this is a community who want justice for this family.

“Any information, no matter how small could help us and if you know something that you weren’t in the position to disclose back then, please contact us.”

Detectives are continuing to follow particular lines of enquiry. These include identifying a white man, in his late teens/early 20s on a bicycle in the area when the house and car were set alight.

In November 2012, a person rang Harlow Police Station from a phone box and left a message, providing information about the fire. Later that month, a piece of paper about the investigation was left on a shelf at the Boots in Harlow. If you were the individual who left these messages or if you know who it was, please contact us.

One hypothesis of this tragedy is that it was initially a burglary. This was due to the fact that a black Toshiba Satellite laptop was stolen from the house and has never been located. The unique laptop was fitted with a two-pin lead, having been bought in Saudi Arabia. The laptop bag and lead were later recovered close to the scene, between Whitewaits and St Michaels Close with the lead being attached to a shaver plug, not belonging to the family.

DCI Metcalfe added “Whilst I appreciate the amount of time that has passed, any information about these lines of enquiry, or anything else about this tragedy would benefit our investigation.

“You do not have to report directly to us, you can always call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or contact them via their website. We have also set up a link on our Major Incident Public Portal, so that the public can submit written information.”

If you have any information in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.

You can let us know by submitting a report on our website or by using our online Live Chat service available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 10am-9pm.

Visit www.essex.police.uk/digital101 to find out more about our website reporting services.

Alternatively you can call us on 101.

In an emergency always call 999.

If you would like to make an anonymous report you can contact independent charity @Crimestoppers, by visiting their website or by calling 0800 555 111.

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