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Leicester fire deaths: Murder probe starts after family killed | Leicester fire deaths: Murder probe starts after family killed |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The deaths of a mother and her three children in a house fire in Leicester are being treated as murder. | The deaths of a mother and her three children in a house fire in Leicester are being treated as murder. |
Detectives are investigating the possibility that the fire was linked to the murder of a man in the city on Thursday. | Detectives are investigating the possibility that the fire was linked to the murder of a man in the city 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' | '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 detectives were 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 is understood to be Antoin Akpom, a coach with the youth football team Nirvana FC. | He is understood to be Antoin Akpom, a coach with the youth football team Nirvana FC. |
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. |
Several neighbours of the family also voiced fears that they had been mistakenly targeted in a revenge attack meant for someone else. | Several neighbours of the family also voiced fears that they had been mistakenly targeted in a revenge attack meant for someone else. |
'Throwing bricks' | 'Throwing bricks' |
A middle-aged man, who was woken by the sound of neighbours attempting to alert the family, said: "Most people feel this was meant for somebody else and they got the wrong house." | A middle-aged man, who was woken by the sound of neighbours attempting to alert the family, said: "Most people feel this was meant for somebody else and they got the wrong house." |
Describing the blaze, he said: "The heat of the fire was so intense it could be felt on the opposite pavement. | Describing the blaze, he said: "The heat of the fire was so intense it could be felt on the opposite pavement. |
"The guy opposite broke the door down but the fire was so intense they couldn't get in. | "The guy opposite broke the door down but the fire was so intense they couldn't get in. |
"They were throwing bricks at the windows at the top of the house to alert them inside but I think it was too late," he said. | "They were throwing bricks at the windows at the top of the house to alert them inside but I think it was too late," he said. |
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. |
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." |
He added: "Putting yourself in his position, you go off to work to save lives as a doctor and you arrive home and find your wife and two sons and daughter are all dead in the most horrible of circumstances. | |
"It's absolutely terrible." | |
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. |