This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/lancashire/6104944.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Mother and daughters die in fire | Mother and daughters die in fire |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A mother and her four daughters, aged from three to 16, have died in what is thought to be a suspicious house fire in Lancashire. | |
| The bodies of Caneze Riaz, 39, and her daughters Sayrah, 16, Sophia, 15, Alicia, 10, and three-year-old Hannah were found in the early hours. | The bodies of Caneze Riaz, 39, and her daughters Sayrah, 16, Sophia, 15, Alicia, 10, and three-year-old Hannah were found in the early hours. |
| Firefighters broke into a bay window of the end terrace house in Tremellen Street, Accrington. | Firefighters broke into a bay window of the end terrace house in Tremellen Street, Accrington. |
| The girls' father, Mohammed Riaz, is in a critical condition in hospital. | The girls' father, Mohammed Riaz, is in a critical condition in hospital. |
| He had to be resuscitated by a firefighter at the scene and is being treated in Wythenshawe Hospital burns unit. | He had to be resuscitated by a firefighter at the scene and is being treated in Wythenshawe Hospital burns unit. |
| The couple are said to also have a fifth child, 17-year-old Adam, who has been receiving hospital treatment for leukaemia. | The couple are said to also have a fifth child, 17-year-old Adam, who has been receiving hospital treatment for leukaemia. |
| A fire service spokesman earlier said police were treating the blaze as suspicious. | A fire service spokesman earlier said police were treating the blaze as suspicious. |
| The house has been sealed off as police investigate | The house has been sealed off as police investigate |
| The house has been sealed off and a police investigation is under way. | The house has been sealed off and a police investigation is under way. |
| A spokeswoman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said the bodies were found upstairs and there was very serious damage to the house. | A spokeswoman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said the bodies were found upstairs and there was very serious damage to the house. |
| The fire service spokeswoman added: "We received a 999 call from a mobile alerting us to the fire at 1.52am this morning, and we were on the scene within three minutes. | The fire service spokeswoman added: "We received a 999 call from a mobile alerting us to the fire at 1.52am this morning, and we were on the scene within three minutes. |
| "The four children and mother were rescued from the burning house but were dead on rescue." | "The four children and mother were rescued from the burning house but were dead on rescue." |
| 'Local tragedy' | 'Local tragedy' |
| Michael Frankland, East Lancashire community protection manager for the fire service, said the blaze was one of the worst he had seen in his 26 years' experience. | Michael Frankland, East Lancashire community protection manager for the fire service, said the blaze was one of the worst he had seen in his 26 years' experience. |
| "We believe the police are treating it as suspicious," he said. "We are gathering a specialist forensic team. | "We believe the police are treating it as suspicious," he said. "We are gathering a specialist forensic team. |
| "It is tragic for firefighters to be rescuing young children. It will be a tragedy for the local community." | "It is tragic for firefighters to be rescuing young children. It will be a tragedy for the local community." |
| She was committed, passionate and effervescent Javed Khan, colleague of Caneze Riaz Mrs Riaz worked as a child project co-ordinator at a local community centre. | She was committed, passionate and effervescent Javed Khan, colleague of Caneze Riaz Mrs Riaz worked as a child project co-ordinator at a local community centre. |
| One of her colleagues, Javed Khan, paid tribute to her and said she played an integral part in the community. | One of her colleagues, Javed Khan, paid tribute to her and said she played an integral part in the community. |
| Mr Khan said: "As a worker she was absolutely fantastic. She was committed, passionate and effervescent. She would do anything for the community." | Mr Khan said: "As a worker she was absolutely fantastic. She was committed, passionate and effervescent. She would do anything for the community." |
| He added: "Only a couple of days ago there was an event at the town hall, an Eid and Diwali celebration and she helped put that together. | He added: "Only a couple of days ago there was an event at the town hall, an Eid and Diwali celebration and she helped put that together. |
| "In a day and age where role models are few, especially in Accrington, a deprived community, she's one of the few people that was out there to make a difference." | "In a day and age where role models are few, especially in Accrington, a deprived community, she's one of the few people that was out there to make a difference." |
| Friend and neighbour Saeeda Farook said the girls were "angels" and described their mother as "beautiful and lovely". | Friend and neighbour Saeeda Farook said the girls were "angels" and described their mother as "beautiful and lovely". |
| "She was looking after them so well. I just can't believe what's happened," she said. | "She was looking after them so well. I just can't believe what's happened," she said. |