Whitechapel fire: Fundraiser for trans women and gay man after alleged anti-LGBT+ arson attack

A fundraiser has been set up for two trans women and a gay man, who suffered a fire in their east London flat last week.

Police are investigating the incident as an arson attack and are treating the incident as “suspicious.” No arrests have been made so far.

Emergency services were called to a fire on the fourth floor of a six-storey building on Whitechapel High Street just after 6am on Friday April 14.

It took 25 firefighters and four fire engines to bring it under control. A stairwell was destroyed, but there have been no reports of injuries.

A crowdfunder page for residents Novaya, Harper and Bart has been organised by a member of the community describing the attack as a hate crime.

“If Novaya had not been awake to hear an explosion from her window at the other end of the flat, the outcome would have been fatal,” the crowdfunder read.

“None of the buildings nor internal flats fire alarms sounded, leaving all inside entirely unaware of any fire whilst Bart & Harper slept.

“If the fire brigade had arrived 5 minutes later the fire door would have entirely burnt through, resulting in all three people within the property being exposed directly to the fire.”

So far the fundraiser has raised over £13,000 and the money will go towards loss of income and assets, as well as to fund a legal battle against the owners of the flat, following allegations that the fire system in the building did not comply with legal standards.

Trans model Munroe Bergdorf shared the fundraiser on her Instagram to gain support for the group, who are currently looking for a temporary place to live.

“This ongoing environment of transphobic hate perpetuated by the UK government and media is putting lives on the line,” she said.