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| Leicester fire deaths: Murder probe starts after family killed | Leicester fire deaths: Murder probe starts after family killed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police have launched a murder investigation after a mother and her three children were killed in a house fire in Leicester. | Police have launched a murder investigation after a mother and her three children were killed in a house fire in Leicester. |
| Detectives are investigating the possibility that the fire was linked to the murder of a man on Thursday. | Detectives are investigating the possibility that the fire was linked to the murder of a man on Thursday. |
| The family's mosque said the mother who died was Shehnila Taufiq, her daughter was Zainab Taufiq, and her sons were Jamal Taufiq and Bilal Taufiq. | The family's mosque said the mother who died was Shehnila Taufiq, her daughter was Zainab Taufiq, and her sons were Jamal Taufiq and Bilal Taufiq. |
| They were found dead in upstairs bedrooms at their house in Wood Hill. | They were found dead in upstairs bedrooms at their house in Wood Hill. |
| 'Level of concern' | |
| The children's father, Dr Muhammad Taufiq Al Sattar, worked as a neurosurgeon at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, and neighbours said the family had recently moved to Leicester. | The children's father, Dr Muhammad Taufiq Al Sattar, worked as a neurosurgeon at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, and neighbours said the family had recently moved to Leicester. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Roger Bannister said Leicestershire Police was examining the possibility of the blaze being a revenge attack. | Assistant Chief Constable Roger Bannister said Leicestershire Police was examining the possibility of the blaze being a revenge attack. |
| He said the murdered man was "in his 20s and lived locally". | He said the murdered man was "in his 20s and lived locally". |
| He was assaulted in Kent Street, less than a mile away from the scene of the fire, at about 17:30. | He was assaulted in Kent Street, less than a mile away from the scene of the fire, at about 17:30. |
| "These are obviously both very serious incidents and investigations have begun to establish if there are any links between them," said Mr Bannister. | "These are obviously both very serious incidents and investigations have begun to establish if there are any links between them," said Mr Bannister. |
| "I understand the level of concern there may be in the city and would ask things not to escalate. | "I understand the level of concern there may be in the city and would ask things not to escalate. |
| "I invite people, that if they have any concerns, to speak to the officers at the scene or call the police." | "I invite people, that if they have any concerns, to speak to the officers at the scene or call the police." |
| Emergency services were called to the fire at about 00:35 BST. | Emergency services were called to the fire at about 00:35 BST. |
| Mr Bannister said the mother who died in the fire was thought to be in her late 40s, her daughter was 19, and her two sons were 17 and 15. | Mr Bannister said the mother who died in the fire was thought to be in her late 40s, her daughter was 19, and her two sons were 17 and 15. |
| Neighbours said the family worshipped at the nearby mosque. They said the father was away in Ireland at the time of the fire. | Neighbours said the family worshipped at the nearby mosque. They said the father was away in Ireland at the time of the fire. |
| Zeeshan Bawany, a family friend, said the father "couldn't believe what was being said to him" when he was told what had happened. | Zeeshan Bawany, a family friend, said the father "couldn't believe what was being said to him" when he was told what had happened. |
| Mr Bawany said he was asked by the family to go to the house and check it was true. | Mr Bawany said he was asked by the family to go to the house and check it was true. |
| A statement from Beaumont Hospital said: "The board and staff of Beaumont Hospital have learned, with shock, of the tragic loss suffered by our colleague Mr Taufiq Sattar. | A statement from Beaumont Hospital said: "The board and staff of Beaumont Hospital have learned, with shock, of the tragic loss suffered by our colleague Mr Taufiq Sattar. |
| "We wish to express our sincere condolences to Mr Sattar and assure him that our support and thoughts are with him at this terrible time." | "We wish to express our sincere condolences to Mr Sattar and assure him that our support and thoughts are with him at this terrible time." |
| Labour MP Keith Vaz, who represents Leicester East, met community members near the police cordon sealing off Wood Hill. | Labour MP Keith Vaz, who represents Leicester East, met community members near the police cordon sealing off Wood Hill. |
| "The father is a doctor and is being comforted by members of the community - a community who are clearly in grief," Mr Vaz said. | "The father is a doctor and is being comforted by members of the community - a community who are clearly in grief," Mr Vaz said. |
| "A whole family wiped out in this way, with only the father remaining, is a big shock and a real tragedy." | "A whole family wiped out in this way, with only the father remaining, is a big shock and a real tragedy." |
| Leicester mayor Peter Soulsby said he had been briefed about the murder in Kent Street and described it as "a stabbing". | Leicester mayor Peter Soulsby said he had been briefed about the murder in Kent Street and described it as "a stabbing". |
| A post-mortem examination on the murdered man is due to take place later. | A post-mortem examination on the murdered man is due to take place later. |