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Salford fire: home security stepped up before suspected arson attack Salford fire: sixth person arrested over arson attack
(about 5 hours later)
A family whose home was set on fire in a suspected arson attack that killed three children had lived in fear of an attack for two weeks, it has been reported. A sixth person has been arrested in connection with an arson attack that killed three children and left a fourth fighting for her life in Greater Manchester.
Emergency services were called to the mid-terrace house in Walkden, Salford, at around 5am on Monday. Four people are now being questioned on suspicion of murdering Demi Pearson, 14, her eight-year-old brother Brandon and seven-year-old sister Lacie after the fire. Five people were taken into custody on Monday in connection with the murder of Demi Pearson, 14, her eight-year-old brother Brandon and seven-year-old sister Lacie following the blaze in Walkden in the early hours of that morning.
The children’s mother, Michelle Pearson, 35, is in a serious condition in hospital while a fourth sibling, three-year-old Lia, is critically ill. A fourth sibling, Lia, three, is critically ill in hospital, while the children’s 35-year-old mother, Michelle Pearson, is in a serious condition. It has been reported that she is heavily sedated and has not been told of the fate of her children.
The Manchester Evening News reports that the fire brigade had fitted a device to the house’s letterbox at the end of last month to prevent flammable materials being poured through it. The arrangements, known as target hardening, are generally used to strengthen a building to protect it in the event of an attack. Three men aged 23, 20 and 19, and a 20-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday, while a 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Greater Manchester police confirmed there had been “earlier incidents” at the address. It is understood police were called to a separate incident at the property – thought to involve a wheelie bin being set alight – at about 2am, three hours before the fire. The force has referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is standard practice after someone dies after contact with the police. On Tuesday, Greater Manchester Police said a 25-year-old man had also been arrested on suspicion of the three murders and the attempted murder of Michelle and Lia. The 19-year-old man and 24-year-old man, and the 20-year-old woman have since been released on bail.
It is understood one line of inquiry is that the culprit may have climbed up scaffolding outside the property to pour fuel down the chimney. It has been reported that fuel was found in at least three locations in the house, the chimney, a ground-floor room, and the front door. Speaking at a press conference, Ch Spt Wayne Miller said they were treating the incident as a targeted attack after recovering CCTV from the area. He thanked the members of the public who had come forward with information, saying the force now had a “much deeper understanding of the devastating events”.
“The loss of a child in any circumstance is unthinkable, to lose three in such deplorable circumstances words cannot describe,” said Miller. “My heart breaks for them, it really does. We’re doing all that we can to get them the answers they quite rightly deserve.”
The Manchester Evening News reported that the Pearson family had been living in fear of an attack for two weeks and that the fire brigade had fitted a device to the house’s letterbox to prevent flammable materials being poured through it.
The police confirmed there had been “earlier incidents” at the address and it is understood police were called to a separate incident at the property at about 2am, three hours before the fire. The force has referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is standard practice when someone dies after contact with the police.
The IPCC said the exact details of their investigation were still to be finalised, but that it would focus on the contact the police had with the occupants of the house, as well as anyone else involved in the report to the police.
Emergency services were called to the address in Jackson Street just before 5am on Monday. Pearson’s eldest son, Kyle, and a friend, both 16, escaped the fire before emergency crews arrived. Demi was pronounced dead at the scene. Lacie and Brandon died later in hospital.Emergency services were called to the address in Jackson Street just before 5am on Monday. Pearson’s eldest son, Kyle, and a friend, both 16, escaped the fire before emergency crews arrived. Demi was pronounced dead at the scene. Lacie and Brandon died later in hospital.
Three men, aged 23, 20 and 18, and a 20-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday. A 24-year-old man is also being questioned in custody on suspicion of assisting an offender. Kyle reportedly awoke to his mother screaming “Fire” before climbing out of an upstairs window to escape. He tried to get back into the home to help his family but was prevented by thick black smoke.
Police had previously urged a murder suspect to hand himself in, saying there was “an active manhunt” to find an individual who they did not name. It is understood one line of police inquiry is that the culprit could have used scaffolding outside the property climb on to the roof and pour fuel down the chimney. It has been reported that fuel was found in at least three locations in the house: the chimney, a ground-floor room and the front door.
“All I would say is he knows who he is and he should give himself up immediately,” said Ch Supt Wayne Miller. “I would ask that person to do the right thing.” Floral tributes were left in Jackson Street on Tuesday, while hundreds candles have been lit at nearby St John the Baptist Church in Little Hulton. Fundraising pages set up by locals for the surviving members of the Pearson family had raised more than £6,000 on Tuesday night.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Kyle paid tribute to his siblings. “Demi was a top girl, very funny. Brandon was very clever and doing well at school. He was brainy. He loved playing computer games and he was looking forward to Christmas,” he said. Of Lacie, he said: “She was the same, clever.” The headteachers of the two schools attended by the victims issued statements on Tuesday. Emma Henderson of Bridgewater Primary school said the school was “very much part of this special community and understands the intense pain experienced at this senseless loss of precious life”.
“I fell asleep and the next thing I knew was I could hear my mum screaming: ‘Fire.’ There was lots of smoke so I climbed out of an upstairs window. I’ve gone to get back in but a cloud of smoke hit me in the face. I tried to break the front door down and smashed a window, but I couldn’t get in because of the flames and the smoke. I can’t get my head around it. It’s disgraceful,” he said. Drew Povey, head teacher of Harrop Fold school, which featured in the Channel 4 programme Educating Greater Manchester, said they were united supporting students and families “in these darkest times”.
Floral tributes continue to be left in Jackson Street on Tuesday, while candles have been lit in memory of Demi, Brandon and Lacie at nearby St John the Baptist Church in Little Hulton.
In a statement, the mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett, said: “Our thoughts are with the friends and family of those killed and seriously injured in this horrific incident in our city. We’ll continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our communities and police to bring those responsible to justice.”
Miller said: “In what is such a heartbreaking set of circumstances, we have been doing our very best to support the family in every way that we can and carry out our inquiries quickly and sensitively.
“We are still appealing for people who witnessed the fire itself or the events leading up to it to get in contact with us and tell us what they know. My thanks go to the members of the public who have supported us with our investigation.”