Thames Valley Police charge man in connection with major fire in Tilehurst, Reading

A man has been charged in connection with an ongoing Thames Valley Police investigation into a major fire in Reading.

Hakeem Kigundu, 31, formerly of Rowe Court, Reading, has today (Friday) been charged with one count of murder and one count of arson with intent to endanger life.

The charges are in connection with a fatal fire which began shortly before 3am at a building in Rowe Court on Wednesday (December 17).

One unidentified person has died as a result of this incident, whilst two people have been reported as missing.

Kigundu has been remanded in custody to appear at Reading Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Saturday).

Fire services received the reports of a blaze at the block of flats at 2.51am, and crews from Caversham Road, Wokingham Road, Theale, Whitley Wood, Wokingham, Bracknell, Ascot, Crowthorne, Slough, two pumps from Newbury and the Aerial Ladder Platform and Incident Command Unit were sent to the scene, together with seven officers and crews from Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a fire within a four storey block of flats, affecting all levels.

In a statement issued by Thames Valley Police on Wednesday night, (December 15) at 10.44pm, it was said that on Thursday (December 16) work will start to assess the structural damage to the building.