Harlow fire deaths: Appeal for cyclist witness

Dr Abdul Shakoor's wife Sabah Usmani and their five children died in the fire at Harlow.

Police are still trying to track down a teenager seen on a bike near a house fire in Essex that claimed the lives of a mother and her five children.

Four witnesses have come forward and been eliminated from the inquiry into the arson attack in Barn Mead, Harlow.

Sabah Usmani, sons Muneeb, nine, and Rayyan, six, and daughter Hira, 12, died on 15 October last year.

Son Sohaib, 11, and daughter Maheen, three, died in hospital. Dr Usmani's husband, Dr Abdul Shakoor, survived.

Police believe the fire was started deliberately by burglars and said the investigation will continue until "those responsible are brought to justice".

Det Supt Rob Vinson said: "We still need the teenager seen on a bike at the scene to contact us, or anyone else who knows who he is.

"I am sure that he will have spoken to people about the fire that night and what he saw and I need him to come forward so that we can eliminate him from our inquiries."

Two people have made contact with police anonymously.

Det Supt Vinson said: "A person rang the police station in Harlow from a phone box and left a message.

"Secondly, separately, a piece of paper with information was left on a shelf in Boots in Harlow."

Police would like these people to make contact as they may be able to help the investigation.

Dr Shakoor's black Toshiba Satellite laptop, stolen from the house on the night of the fire, is also not yet traced.