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Arson attack house still 'unsafe' | Arson attack house still 'unsafe' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Police hope to be able to enter the home of a missing family that was destroyed in an arson attack later. | Police hope to be able to enter the home of a missing family that was destroyed in an arson attack later. |
Christopher Foster, 50, wife Jillian, 49, and daughter Kirstie, 15, have not been seen since Tuesday's fire at the mansion near Maesbrook in Shropshire. | |
Three horses have been found dead in the stable block, which was gutted. Two dogs are missing from the kennels. | Three horses have been found dead in the stable block, which was gutted. Two dogs are missing from the kennels. |
Officers have been unable to enter the house due to the fire's severity, and are waiting for it to be declared safe. | Officers have been unable to enter the house due to the fire's severity, and are waiting for it to be declared safe. |
A search will be carried out of the property to establish if anybody was inside as soon as the building is deemed to be safe Det Supt Jon Groves | A search will be carried out of the property to establish if anybody was inside as soon as the building is deemed to be safe Det Supt Jon Groves |
It is not yet known if the missing family were in the £1.2m property, called Osbaston House, at the time of the fire, which began shortly after 0500 BST. | |
Police have circulated an all-ports warning to be on the lookout for the family. | Police have circulated an all-ports warning to be on the lookout for the family. |
They have also appealed for the family or anyone who may have seen them over the Bank Holiday weekend to get in touch urgently. | They have also appealed for the family or anyone who may have seen them over the Bank Holiday weekend to get in touch urgently. |
Insp Clive Eastwood, of West Mercia Police, said officers had been speaking to friends and relatives of the family in an effort to trace their last known movements. | |
This picture of the Fosters was taken at a friend's house on Monday | This picture of the Fosters was taken at a friend's house on Monday |
Kirstie is a year 10 pupil at Ellesmere College, an independent school in Ellesmere, Shropshire. | Kirstie is a year 10 pupil at Ellesmere College, an independent school in Ellesmere, Shropshire. |
Det Supt Jon Groves, of West Mercia Police, said a CCTV system had been found at the property and would be examined over the coming days. | Det Supt Jon Groves, of West Mercia Police, said a CCTV system had been found at the property and would be examined over the coming days. |
He said: "The house, a garage and stable block and another outbuilding were severely damaged. | He said: "The house, a garage and stable block and another outbuilding were severely damaged. |
"Two horses in the stable and another in the outbuilding have been found dead. Two dogs which we believe were in a kennel block are missing." | "Two horses in the stable and another in the outbuilding have been found dead. Two dogs which we believe were in a kennel block are missing." |
The house, which has electronic gates, is situated off the road between Maesbrook and Knockin. Police said it was well alight when fire crews arrived. | The house, which has electronic gates, is situated off the road between Maesbrook and Knockin. Police said it was well alight when fire crews arrived. |
Mr Groves, from the force's major incident unit, said: "A search will be carried out of the property to establish if anybody was inside as soon as the building is deemed to be safe." | Mr Groves, from the force's major incident unit, said: "A search will be carried out of the property to establish if anybody was inside as soon as the building is deemed to be safe." |
Court order | Court order |
About 80 officers and police personnel are involved in the investigation, which has been named Operation Feedback. | About 80 officers and police personnel are involved in the investigation, which has been named Operation Feedback. |
Companies House, which keeps official records of all companies in the UK, lists Mr Foster as the director of Ulva Limited - a thermal insulation manufacturing company in Telford. | Companies House, which keeps official records of all companies in the UK, lists Mr Foster as the director of Ulva Limited - a thermal insulation manufacturing company in Telford. |
The firm went into administration in August last year and a court order was issued in November for the company to be wound up. | The firm went into administration in August last year and a court order was issued in November for the company to be wound up. |
Mrs Foster is listed as company secretary. | Mrs Foster is listed as company secretary. |
Mr Foster has been the alleged victim of a blackmail, but two men were cleared of attempting to blackmail him into giving them £100,000 at Shrewsbury Crown Court in November 2006. | |
Neighbours, who described the family as wealthy, have said the house's occupants kept themselves to themselves. | Neighbours, who described the family as wealthy, have said the house's occupants kept themselves to themselves. |