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| Two children die after house fire in Hamstead, Birmingham | Two children die after house fire in Hamstead, Birmingham |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two children have died in hospital after a "suspicious" house fire, police have said. | Two children have died in hospital after a "suspicious" house fire, police have said. |
| The pair, a boy and a girl, were found at the property in Holland Road, Hamstead, Birmingham. | The pair, a boy and a girl, were found at the property in Holland Road, Hamstead, Birmingham. |
| Despite attempts by fire crews to resuscitate them, "nothing could be done" to save either child, the ambulance service said. | Despite attempts by fire crews to resuscitate them, "nothing could be done" to save either child, the ambulance service said. |
| Post-mortem examinations are due to take place later, West Midlands Police said. | Post-mortem examinations are due to take place later, West Midlands Police said. |
| A woman was also assessed by the ambulance service but did not suffer any serious injuries. | A woman was also assessed by the ambulance service but did not suffer any serious injuries. |
| Live updates on this story | Live updates on this story |
| Residents told the BBC a neighbour had carried the children out of the house and laid them on the lawn. | Residents told the BBC a neighbour had carried the children out of the house and laid them on the lawn. |
| Firefighters were called to the scene at about 03:40 BST, and extinguished a fire in the hallway. | Firefighters were called to the scene at about 03:40 BST, and extinguished a fire in the hallway. |
| Less than two hours earlier paramedics had attended a shooting in nearby Handsworth Wood. | Less than two hours earlier paramedics had attended a shooting in nearby Handsworth Wood. |
| 'Terrible scream' | |
| Police have launched a murder investigation but said it is not related to the fire. | Police have launched a murder investigation but said it is not related to the fire. |
| Det Insp Justin Spanner said: "The events of this morning remain unclear and we are still trying to piece together the circumstances leading up to what happened. | Det Insp Justin Spanner said: "The events of this morning remain unclear and we are still trying to piece together the circumstances leading up to what happened. |
| "This is a terrible incident and my thoughts are with everyone who has been affected." | |
| Dawn Hill, who lives in the road, said she was in bed when she heard a scream. | |
| "It was terrible - I can still hear it now," she said. | |
| She said she went outside and saw a woman who was "uncontrollable". Two children were on the grass and a firefighter was attempting to resuscitate them, she said. | |
| A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said the two children were in cardiac arrest when they arrived. | A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said the two children were in cardiac arrest when they arrived. |
| "Bystanders had already started CPR which crews took over before also administering advanced life support," he said. | "Bystanders had already started CPR which crews took over before also administering advanced life support," he said. |
| They were treated on the way to hospital, he said, but shortly after arrival "it became clear that nothing could be done to save either child and they were confirmed deceased". | They were treated on the way to hospital, he said, but shortly after arrival "it became clear that nothing could be done to save either child and they were confirmed deceased". |
| West Midlands Fire Service said its investigators were working with police to establish how the fire started. | West Midlands Fire Service said its investigators were working with police to establish how the fire started. |
| Flowers have since been laid at the scene. | Flowers have since been laid at the scene. |