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Leicester fire deaths: Family 'not involved' in street attack Leicester fire deaths: Family 'not involved' in street attack
(about 2 hours later)
Detectives investigating a house fire in Leicester which killed four members of a family say there is no evidence they were involved in a death nearby.Detectives investigating a house fire in Leicester which killed four members of a family say there is no evidence they were involved in a death nearby.
Friday's fire killed four people, named locally as Shehnila Taufiq, her sons Jamal and Bilal and daughter Zainab.Friday's fire killed four people, named locally as Shehnila Taufiq, her sons Jamal and Bilal and daughter Zainab.
Police said there was no evidence anyone in the house was involved in the street attack on the man but they could not rule out the cases being linked. Police said it was a fast moving murder investigation with "promising" lines of inquiry but no-one has been arrested.
They said detectives were examining whether the fire was a revenge attack. It remains linked with the man's death in an attack but friends say they fear the family were targeted by mistake.
Neighbours of the Taufiq family in Wood Hill have said they fear they could have been targeted in a case of mistaken identity. Police said there was no evidence anyone in the house was involved in the street attack on the man, understood to be Antoin Akpom, but they could not rule out the cases being linked.
It was suggested the fire could have been a revenge attack but neighbours of the Taufiq family in Wood Hill said they fear it could have been a case of mistaken identity.
'Close proximity''Close proximity'
The man who died in the Kent Street assault is understood to be Antoin Akpom, a coach and former player at Leicester Nirvana FC. Assistant Chief Constable for Leicestershire Police Roger Bannister, speaking at a press conference, said there was "every reason to believe" the fire was started deliberately but a cause had not been established.
Assistant Chief Constable for Leicestershire Police Roger Bannister said: "While we are investigating links between the two crimes there is absolutely no evidence to suggest those who died in the fire, or indeed anyone else who lives in that property, was involved in the assault in Kent Street. "It's a dynamic and fast moving inquiry," he added.
"Because of the close proximity - in terms of time and location - of the two incidents, it is right that we look at whether there are links between the two crimes. "It's difficult to give any indications how close we are to making arrests but some of those inquiries are promising."
"However, at this stage in our investigations we have found nothing to suggest the residents of the house devastated by the fire had anything to do with the Kent Street incident." Speaking of the families of both victims he said: "I sit here before you today appealing for anyone quite simply to come forward. Two families have been absolutely devastated, whole communities have been rocked."
Forensic experts continue to scour both scenes for clues and have carried out house to house enquiries in the area.Forensic experts continue to scour both scenes for clues and have carried out house to house enquiries in the area.
Mr Bannister said they believed there are people in the community who know more about what has happened. Mr Bannister said they believed there were people in the community who knew more about what had happened.
'He was passionate''He was passionate'
Detectives are continuing to link the fire, now a murder investigation, with the death of a man in his 20s. Detectives are continuing to link the fire, now a murder investigation, with the death of the man in his 20s, believed to be Mr Akpom.
He died in hospital after an attack in Kent Street, in the Highfields area of Leicester, at about 17:00 BST on Thursday, about a mile from the house. He died in hospital after an attack in Kent Street, in the Highfields area of Leicester, about a mile from the scene of the fire, at about 17:00 BST on Thursday,
Three people were arrested on Friday in connection with his death; a 19-year-old man in London and two women, both aged 19. Three people were arrested on Friday in connection with his death; a 19-year-old man in London and two women, both aged 19, in the Warwickshire area.
Zak Hajat, vice chairman at Leicester Nirvana FC, said Mr Akpom played for the club before later taking up coaching.Zak Hajat, vice chairman at Leicester Nirvana FC, said Mr Akpom played for the club before later taking up coaching.
"He was someone who had a great relationship with the young people and he worked hard," he said."He was someone who had a great relationship with the young people and he worked hard," he said.
"He was very dedicated in what he did. He was passionate that these boys have the opportunity to play football.""He was very dedicated in what he did. He was passionate that these boys have the opportunity to play football."
Mr Hajat said he had been ringing round parents at the club and the youngsters were upset at the news.Mr Hajat said he had been ringing round parents at the club and the youngsters were upset at the news.
The club will hold a minute's silence at its home matches on Sunday. The club held a minute's silence at its home match on Saturday and will do so again on Sunday.
Mistaken identityMistaken identity
The blaze in Wood Hill started shortly after midnight on Friday morning with neighbours describing hearing "popping" sounds and smelling burning plastic.The blaze in Wood Hill started shortly after midnight on Friday morning with neighbours describing hearing "popping" sounds and smelling burning plastic.
A man, who was woken by the sound of neighbours attempting to alert the family, said: "The heat of the fire was so intense it could be felt on the opposite pavement.A man, who was woken by the sound of neighbours attempting to alert the family, 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.""They were throwing bricks at the windows at the top of the house to alert them inside but I think it was too late."
Despite residents attempts to raise the alarm with the family all four were found by firefighters dead in upstairs bedrooms. Despite residents' attempts to raise the alarm with the family all four were found by firefighters dead in upstairs bedrooms.
The children's father, Dr Muhammad Taufiq Al Sattar, worked as a neurosurgeon at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, and was due to return home on Friday.The children's father, Dr Muhammad Taufiq Al Sattar, worked as a neurosurgeon at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, and was due to return home on Friday.
Neighbours and friends of the family killed in the fire could not believe they would be a revenge target, putting it down to a case of mistaken identity. Neighbours and friends of the family killed in the fire said they could not believe they would be a revenge target.
The family was described as devout and hardworking and moved to the area about five years ago for the nearby religious schools and the mosque. The family was described as devout and hardworking and moved to the area about five years ago because of the nearby religious schools and the mosque.
Special prayers will be held later at the nearby Jame Mosque for Jamal and Bilal with further prayers for their mother and sister on Sunday. Special prayers were held at the nearby Jame Mosque for Jamal and Bilal with further prayers for their mother and sister on Sunday.