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Three killed in fire at abandoned Melbourne factory Arrest after Melbourne abandoned factory fire kills three
(about 2 hours later)
Three people have died in a suspicious fire that tore through an abandoned factory in Melbourne, Australia. A 52-year-old man has been arrested after three people died in a fire at an abandoned factory in Melbourne, Australia.
Firefighters were called around 23:30 (12:30 GMT) on Wednesday after reports of an explosion. Firefighters were called at around 23:30 (12:30 GMT) on Wednesday, after reports of an explosion.
It took them 40 minutes to extinguish the blaze before finding three bodies inside. Local media say the victims are believed to be two men and a woman. It took them 40 minutes to extinguish the blaze, before finding three bodies, reported to be two men and a woman.
The factory was often used as a shelter by homeless people.The factory was often used as a shelter by homeless people.
Arson experts will investigate the cause of the fire, police said. The dead people are also believed to have been homeless, Australian media reported.
One witness, taxi driver Mohamed Ali, said he had heard screams coming from the factory in Footscray, in the city's west. Victoria Police say they are investigating the cause of the fire, which they are treating as suspicious, and that the arrested man is "assisting investigators with their enquiries".
One witness, taxi driver Mohamed Ali, said he had heard screams coming from the factory in Footscray, a few kilometres west of the city centre.
"A few minutes later I saw the fire engines come," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corp."A few minutes later I saw the fire engines come," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
"For me, it's a horrible situation because we couldn't help. I haven't seen anything like this in my whole life. I'm not feeling good.""For me, it's a horrible situation because we couldn't help. I haven't seen anything like this in my whole life. I'm not feeling good."
Prominent Melbourne youth worker Les Twentyman said homeless people often took refuge at the site.Prominent Melbourne youth worker Les Twentyman said homeless people often took refuge at the site.
"There is a little alcove near the car park - people sleep in that little alcove," he told the Herald Sun."There is a little alcove near the car park - people sleep in that little alcove," he told the Herald Sun.
"It just shows how desperate they are.""It just shows how desperate they are."
The site was originally Victoria's largest ropeworks and operated from 1903 to 2002. After the factory shut, the state government backed plans to build a large apartment complex on the site.The site was originally Victoria's largest ropeworks and operated from 1903 to 2002. After the factory shut, the state government backed plans to build a large apartment complex on the site.