Confusion and fear after two weeks of tension in Graham Road
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The eventful 15th day of the Hackney siege began when Eli Hall fired three shots at police from the second floor of the terraced house at 9.15am.
Police returned one shot in response but then aimed baton rounds at the windows once they realised a fire had been started. Armed officers used firefighting equipment to extinguish the blaze as smoke billowed from the building.
The 32-year-old gunman, who has been holed up since Boxing Day and has not eaten for a week, could be seen moving around inside the house.
The fire was brought temporarily under control before flaring up again and, by mid-morning, it was nearly out, having caused irreparable structural damage.
At 10.50am, police lost any sight or sound of the fugitive. At lunchtime, Commander Bob Quick said in one of several press briefings under a railway bridge in Graham Road: "We have not seen any signs of life from the suspect. Part of the building has been relatively unaffected by the fire and he could have sought refuge." He said it might have been significant that indiscriminate shooting had ended.
For several hours, there was silence in the partially evacuated neighbourhood, as the siege appeared to be heading for day 16. The only activity was an occasional plea broadcast to the fugitive and the repositioning of police and fire crews. But as darkness fell, police sought to establish whether their target had died in the fire or was lying low in one of the two bedsits.
Onlookers who had gathered for a glimpse in a side street next to the town hall were ordered away. Armed officers moved into position and filled the two rooms with CS spray in a volley of six shots at 4.45pm.
Within an hour, Mr Quick was back on the streets to brief the press, saying it was unlikely that Mr Hall had survived. The commander, who is leading the siege operation, said: "The CS gas was fired into two rooms least affected by fire. We can't wholly eliminate the possibility that he may have been able to secrete himself and discharge a firearm as he has previously done.
"But certainly it is very difficult to cope [in the conditions] and we would have expected to see some kind of reaction. Clearly we are moving into the end-phase." He added: "The assessment is that it is unlikely he would have survived."
Late last night, an end to the siege was confirmed. Shortly before 9.30pm two police officers climbed a ladder after distraction grenades had been thrown into the building. They spotted the burnt body of a man near the back door.
A final solution to the stand-off had been delayed because fire damage to the building had made it too dangerous for officers to enter. The upper floors were crumbling and one side of the house was in danger of collapse. Firefighters doused the smouldering building from a distance to avoid being hit by falling masonry or sniper fire.
Positive identification of Mr Hall will have to wait until the building is considered safe enough to retrieve the body, although his family were informed late last night.
The Metropolitan Police added that it had referred the case voluntarily to the Police Complaints Authority as a matter of course.
The siege became the longest in Britain yesterday, outlasting a 14-day stand-off in Hull in 1995. It has caused widespread disruption in Hackney, with about 40 people trapped in their homes. A man held by the gunman managed to escape on Sunday. Mr Hall had been living without electricity, gas or water in his flat for nearly a week.
FOURTEEN DAYS IN BRITAIN'S LONGEST SIEGE
26 December: Siege begins at 11am. Police trying to move a suspicious vehicle are threatened by a man at the window of a flat. They call in armed officers, who come under fire as they attempt to arrest him. Street is evacuated.
27 December: Man barricades himself in flat. Negotiators speak to man over phone. He drops gun through window.
28 December: Twenty-two residents moved to emergency accommodation.
29 December: Police reveal there is a man with the gunman. Residents are escorted in and out of their homes. Police take in takeaway chicken meal. Gunman claims to be shot in shoulder but refuses medical help.
30 December: Police say other man is being held against his will. Gunman named as Eli Hall, 32. Sources say he is wanted over two shootings.
31 December: Siege becomes one of the longest in UK history, passing the six days of the 1980 Iranian embassy siege.
1 January: Two shots heard. Neither gunman nor hostage are hurt. Man remanded in custody after he allegedly tries smuggling cannabis to gunman in a piece of fried chicken.
2 January: Police switch off electricity to bedsit.
3 January: Police say they are "determined" to bring situation to a peaceful end.
4 January: Negotiations continue with gunman.
5 January: Hostage escapes from building unharmed.
6 January: Gunman is described as "disgruntled and dangerous" after his hostage flees, police say. Hostage said to be "very traumatised".
7 January: Gunman is burning furniture to keep warm. Police say he has two guns and is "volatile and quick-tempered".
8 January: Gunman contacts police by field phone. Hopes of end to siege fade as police say he has taken "very entrenched" position with negotiators.