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Murder inquiry after fire death | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Police are treating a fatal fire at a building in Warwickshire as murder. | |
One person was killed in the blaze at the former cleaning company premises in Wise Street, Leamington Spa. | |
Fire crews said earlier two people were "unaccounted for" and their search of the premises would continue once the building was deemed safe by engineers. | |
Det Ch Insp Adrian McGee said he believed someone had been sleeping rough in the two-storey building but they had not been identified. | |
He added: "It has not been possible to approach the body so we do not know whether it is male or female. | |
"We are treating this as a murder investigation and are appealing for witnesses or anyone who has information or saw anything suspicious from last night onwards to come forward. | |
"It was a pleasant evening and there were probably a lot of people around making the most of the good weather. | |
"It is also just off a route home from the town and there is a licensed premises across the road so someone may have seen something. | |
"I would urge anyone with information to call us as soon as possible." | |
Completely damaged | |
The cause of the fire has not been established. | |
Part of High Street has been closed while the blaze is investigated. | |
Some 10 crews attended the fire after being alerted at about 0600 BST. | |
West Midlands Ambulance Service said it sent a crew to the blaze. | |
A spokesman said: "One person, whose body was found inside the building, was confirmed dead at the scene." | A spokesman said: "One person, whose body was found inside the building, was confirmed dead at the scene." |
Fire crews had searched most of the building and would continue when it was deemed safe by inspectors, a spokesman for Warwickshire Fire Service said. | Fire crews had searched most of the building and would continue when it was deemed safe by inspectors, a spokesman for Warwickshire Fire Service said. |
He added that the blaze had "completely damaged" most of the building. | He added that the blaze had "completely damaged" most of the building. |
About 90% of the fire was put out by 0720 BST, he added. | About 90% of the fire was put out by 0720 BST, he added. |