A 46-year-old who died in a fire on an NHS ward in north London is being treated as murder.
The fire broke out in a ground floor room in a medical facility of the Whittingdon Hospital just before 6.30am on Sunday.
Staff had to evacuate 100 patients before firefighters arrived and no-one else was injured.
The man was pronounced dead just after 7am and an investigation into how the fire broke out is underway.
Two men aged 21 and 30 were arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder.
The NHS hospital has a mental health unit called the Highgate Wing on Dartmouth Park Hill.
London Fire Brigade said: “Firefighters were called to a fire at a medical health centre on Dartmouth Park Hill in Highgate.
“Part of a room on the ground floor was damaged by fire.
“Sadly a man was confirmed dead at the scene.
“Around 100 people were evacuated from the building by staff.
“The Brigade was called at 6.29am and the fire was under control by 7.19am.
“Fire crews from Kentish Town and Holloway fire stations were at the scene.
“The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.”
Scotland Yard said: “A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a man in Highgate.
“Police were called by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) at 6.34am on Sunday to a report of a fire at a medical facility in Dartmouth Park Hill, N19.
“Officers attended along with the London Fire Brigade who were already on scene.
“A 46-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene at 7.05am
“His next of kin have been informed. Formal identification and a post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.
“Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command investigate.
“Enquiries are currently underway to establish the full circumstances and the cause of the fire. A crime scene remains in place at the medical facility.
“Nobody else was injured in the incident.
“Two men were arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. Both men aged 21 and 30 remain in custody at London police stations.
“Enquiries continue.”
By Tony Whitfield
