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| Manchester Chinatown fire pair named locally as Popeye and Uncle Albert | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two homeless people who died after a fire ripped through a building in Chinatown in Manchester have been named locally as Wayne and James, who were nicknamed Uncle Albert and Popeye. | Two homeless people who died after a fire ripped through a building in Chinatown in Manchester have been named locally as Wayne and James, who were nicknamed Uncle Albert and Popeye. |
| The pair are thought to have lit a fire in an attempt to keep warm in the freezing conditions early on Friday morning. Their bodies were found on the first floor of the derelict building on Nicholas Street, a spot known to be commonly used by rough sleepers. | The pair are thought to have lit a fire in an attempt to keep warm in the freezing conditions early on Friday morning. Their bodies were found on the first floor of the derelict building on Nicholas Street, a spot known to be commonly used by rough sleepers. |
| Fire crews were called just before 2.15am to tackle the blaze, which illuminated the quarter’s imperial arch and blocked city centre roads. At just after 11.30am on Friday police announced that they had found two bodies. | Fire crews were called just before 2.15am to tackle the blaze, which illuminated the quarter’s imperial arch and blocked city centre roads. At just after 11.30am on Friday police announced that they had found two bodies. |
| Greater Manchester police said they were working to formally identify the victims, a task they said could prove difficult because of the nature of their injuries. The investigation is expected to be concluded later this week and the building returned to its owners. | Greater Manchester police said they were working to formally identify the victims, a task they said could prove difficult because of the nature of their injuries. The investigation is expected to be concluded later this week and the building returned to its owners. |
| One post in the Feed the Homeless: Manchester group on Facebook read: “The two people killed in the Chinatown fire have been informally confirmed as homeless and informally named as nickname Popeye and Wayne. What I have been told is that they have kicked a candle over while asleep. However, I guess that is speculation based on knowledge of the conditions inside the building.” | One post in the Feed the Homeless: Manchester group on Facebook read: “The two people killed in the Chinatown fire have been informally confirmed as homeless and informally named as nickname Popeye and Wayne. What I have been told is that they have kicked a candle over while asleep. However, I guess that is speculation based on knowledge of the conditions inside the building.” |
| News of the two men’s deaths prompted calls for further action to tackle the homelessness in Manchester. | News of the two men’s deaths prompted calls for further action to tackle the homelessness in Manchester. |
| Amanda Croome, the manager of the Booth Centre, which offers support for homeless people, told the Manchester Evening News that the reasons for homelessness were complex. | Amanda Croome, the manager of the Booth Centre, which offers support for homeless people, told the Manchester Evening News that the reasons for homelessness were complex. |
| “It is never just one problem and never just one solution,” she said. “But there is just an urgent need to end homelessness in Manchester because more of these type of situations will occur.” | “It is never just one problem and never just one solution,” she said. “But there is just an urgent need to end homelessness in Manchester because more of these type of situations will occur.” |
| The official number of people sleeping rough in Manchester has increased tenfold since 2010, when the council’s annual rough sleeper count recorded seven. In comparison, 70 people were counted in the most recent count on the same night last December, up from 43 in 2014. | The official number of people sleeping rough in Manchester has increased tenfold since 2010, when the council’s annual rough sleeper count recorded seven. In comparison, 70 people were counted in the most recent count on the same night last December, up from 43 in 2014. |
| Lucy Powell, the Labour MP for Manchester Central, said the tragedy highlighted the risks homeless people and rough sleepers faced, particularly over winter months. | Lucy Powell, the Labour MP for Manchester Central, said the tragedy highlighted the risks homeless people and rough sleepers faced, particularly over winter months. |
| “Successive Tory and Tory-Lib Dem governments have overseen a drastic increase in homelessness, as well as savage cuts to the wide range of council and voluntary services which support people who are homeless or at risk of becoming so,” she said. | “Successive Tory and Tory-Lib Dem governments have overseen a drastic increase in homelessness, as well as savage cuts to the wide range of council and voluntary services which support people who are homeless or at risk of becoming so,” she said. |
| “Like most people in Manchester, I am horrified at the plight of homeless people in our society. Tragedies like this highlight the real risks people face and the need to do more.” | “Like most people in Manchester, I am horrified at the plight of homeless people in our society. Tragedies like this highlight the real risks people face and the need to do more.” |