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| Two children die after house fire in Hamstead, Birmingham | Two children die after house fire in Hamstead, Birmingham |
| (35 minutes 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. |
| An eight-year-old boy and six-year-old girl were found at the property in Holland Road, Hamstead, Birmingham. | An eight-year-old boy and six-year-old girl were found at the property in Holland Road, Hamstead, Birmingham. |
| A man, believed to be the children's father, was found inside a fire-damaged car in Staffordshire on Friday morning, West Midlands Police said. | A man, believed to be the children's father, was found inside a fire-damaged car in Staffordshire on Friday morning, West Midlands Police said. |
| He suffered life-threatening injuries and is in a critical condition in hospital. | He suffered life-threatening injuries and is in a critical condition in hospital. |
| 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. |
| Live updates on this story | Live updates on this story |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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' | 'Terrible scream' |
| Police have begun an attempted murder investigation but say 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." | "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. | 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. | "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. | 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. |