Revealed: The seven clues that police hope will find the house fire killer of mother and her five children 12 years ago

Police have issued a fresh call for new information about a house fire that killed a mother and her five children 12 years ago.

Sabah Usmani, 44, her three sons Sohaib, 11, Rayyan, six, and Muneeb, nine, and two daughters Maheen, three, and Hira, 13, all died after the blaze ripped through their family home in Harlow, Essex, in October 15, 2012.

Father Dr Abdul Shakoor was the only survivor of the arson attack, which is believed to have been caused by 'malicious ignition'. Detectives were also aware of a burglary at the house on the same day.

But the perpetrator was never brought to justice, despite Essex Police launching a murder investigation that is still ongoing.

The force has issued a fresh appeal for information on the anniversary of the fire and revealed seven clues that they hope will find the killer.

Detectives have asked for information from members of the public regarding any of the following lines of enquiry:

A white man aged in his late teens/early 20s on a bicycle seen in the area when the house and car were set alight. It is thought he could be a key witness.

The family laptop, a black Toshiba Satellite, which was taken from the house in a burglary. This has not been located. Do you know where the laptop is or was?

The laptop was fitted with a two-pin lead because it was bought in Saudi Arabia. The laptop bag and lead were later recovered near to the scene between Whitewaits and St Michael's Close. Did you see these items being dumped or did you notice any suspicious activity in these areas at the time?

Attached to the laptop lead was a shaver adapter plug. This did not belong to the Shakoor family which suggests someone tried to use the plug. Did you have a shaver plug missing from your home at the time?

Do you know anything about a silver Ford Focus that was also set alight near the scene of the house fire?

In November 2012 a person rang Harlow police station from a phone box and left a message about the fire. Are you that person?

Also in November 2012 a piece of paper about the murder investigation was left on a shelf in Boots in Harlow. Did you leave that piece of paper? The murder investigation into the fire, named Operation Shakespeare, has involved more than 70 police officers and staff.

It has seen around 500 people come forward to give witness statements and almost 2,000 items being examined.

Dr Shakoor has continually appealed for witnesses since the incident and in 2022, he took part in a remembrance service to mark the anniversary of the fatal fire.

He said at the time it was 'absolutely important' to mark the deaths with the local community, adding: 'It's really difficult, I cannot forget the time in the night when it happened.'

Dr Shakoor described his wife as 'my best friend' and told of how his children 'really loved living here, we had a very good community'.

He also said he was pleased to be informed that detectives are still probing the fire ten years on following a meeting with Essex Police on Friday.

The father continued: 'I'm a strong believer in hope and that at some point, we will get the answers.'

Dr Shakoor discovered the fire at his home in Barn Mead, Harlow, at 1.40am and battled hard to save his family, suffering the effects of the dense smoke and also minor burns as he tried to get them out.

He bravely jumped out the window and landed on a car parked below, before trying to re-enter the house with a neighbour.

Dr Shakoor fought his way through the flames and managed to climb the stairs, but it proved to be too late.

At the same time as fire crews were tackling the blaze, a Ford Focus car was alight in a parking area nearby.

All six victims died of asphyxiation through smoke inhalation. His wife Sabah died at the scene with their daughter Hira and sons Muneeb and Rayyan.

Sohaib, 11, died at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow where Dr Shakoor worked.

The fifth and youngest child, Maheen, who would have celebrated her fourth birthday nine days after the fire, never regained consciousness.

Her father had to make the painful decision to turn off her life support machine.

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: 'Dr Shakoor lives with the unimaginable pain of losing his entire family; a wife who he had planned to grow old with; children who he imagined growing up and going on to do great things.

'But that future was taken from him exactly 12 years ago. For 12 years, no one has faced justice for what happened but I remain committed to changing that.'

'I have met with Dr Shakoor and I see his unwavering determination to see someone – or some people – held accountable for his family's deaths. I am committed to doing all we can to give him that.'

DCI Metcalfe added: 'No case is ever closed, and this investigation has been regularly reviewed to identify new lines of enquiry.

'Securing justice for Dr Shakoor remains our determined aim and I remain very confident the answers to this absolute tragedy lie within the Harlow community.'