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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Leicester fire deaths: Family 'not involved' in street attack | Leicester fire deaths: Family 'not involved' in street attack |
| (about 1 hour 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 it was a fast moving murder investigation with "promising" lines of inquiry but no-one has been arrested. | Police said it was a fast moving murder investigation with "promising" lines of inquiry but no-one has been arrested. |
| It remains linked with the man's death in an attack but friends say they fear the family were targeted by mistake. | It remains linked with the man's death in an attack but friends say they fear the family were targeted by mistake. |
| Police said there was no evidence anyone in the house was involved in the street attack that killed 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 believed it could have been a case of mistaken identity. | |
| 'My best friend' | |
| Mr Akpom's sister Lianne Murray was at a Leicester Nirvana FC match where players held a minute's silence and wore armbands in his memory. | |
| She said he worked in Sparkenhoe Primary School and had hoped to train as a teacher. | |
| "He was my baby brother, he was my best friend, and my right arm," she said. | |
| "Everybody said he was a version of me. He was always on a positive vibe. | |
| "He had this laugh, he lit up the room. I know that sounds a cliche but it's true." | |
| 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, speaking at a press conference, said there was "every reason to believe" the fire was started deliberately but a cause had not been established. |
| "It's a dynamic and fast moving inquiry," he added. | "It's a dynamic and fast moving inquiry," he added. |
| "It's difficult to give any indications how close we are to making arrests but some of those inquiries are promising." | "It's difficult to give any indications how close we are to making arrests but some of those inquiries are promising." |
| 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." | 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 were people in the community who knew more about what had 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 Mr Akpom who was in his 20s. | |
| 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, | 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, in the Warwickshire area. | 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 held a minute's silence at its home match on Saturday and will do so again on Sunday. | The club held a minute's silence at its home match on Saturday and will do so again on Sunday. |
| Mistaken identity | Mistaken 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 said they could not believe they would be a revenge target. | 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 because of 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 were held 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. |