Two men were arrested following yesterday’s blaze in an east London tower block, it has emerged today.

They were detained by police in connection with the fire on the 5th and 6th floors of the 12-storey Dorrington Point at Bromley-by-Bow, Scotland Yard has confirmed.

Some 200 tenants were evacuated from the block on the Bow Bridge Estate as 80 firefighters arrived from Bow, Silvertown, Bethnal Green, Poplar, Millwall, Stratford, Shoreditch, Kingsland, Barking and as far as Plumstead and Peckham.

A baby was treated by paramedics at the scene as a precaution. A man in his 60s suffered cuts and bruises and an elderly woman was taken to hospital suffering from the effects of the smoke.

Three people were trapped and had to be rescued by fire-crews with breathing apparatus who fought their way through acrid smoke to reach them. Another five people had to be led down the staircase to safety.

Police investigating the blaze say the cause at this stage is unexplained.

The two arrested at Dorrington Point, one aged 42, the other 46, were released on police bail early this-morning, to return early next month. No charges have been made.

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Dorrington Point—Dramatic video [see related links]