Man charged with murder, eight attempted murders and arson after house fire in London

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Pawel Kulpa was handcuffed in Kent on Sunday while travelling to France by train

A man has been charged with murder after a house fire in west London left one woman dead and eight others in hospital.

Pawel Kulpa, 34, has been charged with one count of murder, eight counts of attempted murder and one count of arson with intent to endanger life.

At 1.14am on August 19, officers were alerted to a blaze at a property on Berkeley Avenue, Hounslow.

The Met has named the 50-year-old woman killed in the blaze as Anna Kowalska.

The force confirmed that her her next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

Another 40-year-old woman remains in a life-threatening condition in hospital, while seven others - six men and one woman - have since been discharged with minor injuries.

Shortly after the deadly fire, the Met Police launched a murder investigation.

On Monday, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that Mr Kulpa had been charged in connection to the blaze.

The 34-year-old will appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on August 25.

Photos from the scene of the fire show a blackened terraced house with peeling from the window panes.

Satwant Singh, a 48-year-old shopkeeper, had rushed outside with a jet washer after the inferno erupted.

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He told The Sun: "I told my wife to get all the children outside and then opened up the alleyway side door and brought the jet wash around the front of the house to spray the fire.

“I could see that the door was on fire but there was smoke everywhere else.”

Mr Satwant said he did not think about himself in the moment and was "just thinking that I needed to help".

Lisa Ramsarran, the chief crown prosecutor in London north said her team has worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to pursue criminal proceedings.

“We have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to bring this case to court, and we will continue working with them as their investigation progresses.

“Mr Kulpa will appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday August 25.

“We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendant are active and he has the right to a fair trial.

“It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”