Pictured: 14-year-old ‘in love’ schoolgirl killed in Becton arson attack

14-year-old teenager a girlKingsford Community School pupil Tiffany is believed to be the victim of the fatal block of flats fire in Tollgate Road, Becton.

Tiffany is believed to have joined friends to celebrate the Easter holidays before the fire broke out at around 5.25pm ​​on Thursday.

Residents reportedly jumped from upper-story windows to escape the flames.

The fire is treated as arson and a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Five others were also injured in the fire, but were later discharged from the hospital.

Wasi Ahmed, a family friend who saw the flames go up, told the Standard: “Tiffany was loving and caring and very close to my daughter and wife.

“Tiffany lived with her grandmother near Asda as her grandmother was elderly.

“This apartment was Tiffany’s friends, I think school friends got together and met in the apartment to just talk and enjoy the holidays.”

They added: “We have lived in Becton since 1988 and have seen children and families grow up over the years.

“My daughter is in the same class as Tiffany at Kingsford Community School.

“We always saw Tiffany, she was so generous and humble and had a heart of gold.

“My daughter has been very distressed since yesterday as she tries to come to terms with this tragedy.”

He said: “People went out of their way to help. They brought mattresses so that the children could jump out of the windows to safety.”

A woman posing as Tiffany’s aunt wrote on TikTok: “This can’t be true, it was my niece.

“RIP beautiful you are gone too soon. The world is so horrible, may your beautiful soul rest in peace now. Love you, girl.”

Paying tribute, a man who identified himself as a family friend called the teenager an “angel”.

The man, who gave his name only as Godfrey, 30, said: “I even have videos of her from when she was younger.

“She spent some time with my little nephews. I will never forget these memories with her.”

Eyewitnesses said they saw people jumping from windows on mattresses to escape the fire.

Neighbor Inga Tilvikiene said: “First a little boy of four or five years jumped… Two boys found an old mattress. About six or seven people [jumped on it].

“One girl just jumped on the floor, you saw her bruised yesterday.”

Rahina Begum, who lives opposite the flats, described how the fire “took off very quickly, within seconds”.

She said: “In 10 to 15 seconds the whole building was on fire, from the bottom to the top.”

Kenesha Lawrence, 43, who lived in the apartment building with her 14-year-old son, has been forced to stay in a dormitory after her home was destroyed.

She said: “I’m wearing the same clothes I went to work in yesterday morning.

“My whole life was spent there. I’ve lived there for nine years, and I have no idea what’s going on there.

“Right in front of me, I know, is a family with a little boy. I don’t know their names. Mother and daughter were over it.”

Head of North East Command Simon Crick said: “My thoughts are with the victim, her family and friends at this time. Incidents like this send shockwaves through our communities and I do not underestimate the impact it will have locally and beyond.

“Your officers will be patrolling the immediate area over the Easter weekend, please speak to them if you have any concerns.”

The scene and security cordons remain in place and an investigation is underway.

Detective Chief Inspector Joanna York, of the Met’s Specialist Counter-Strike Unit, said: “We are at the very early stages of our investigation and are still keen to hear from anyone who has information but has not yet spoken to police.

“I understand the impact such an incident would have on the local community and I echo Chief Superintendent Crick’s advice that anyone who is concerned should speak to local officers. I would like to thank the residents in the immediate area for their cooperation while my team carry out their investigations.

“Our thoughts are with the victim’s family.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting 5315/6APR.

To remain 100 per cent anonymous, call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit Crimestoppers-uk.org.