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| Mother and girls murdered in fire | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A fire which killed a mother and her four daughters in Lancashire was started deliberately, police have said. | A fire which killed a mother and her four daughters in Lancashire was started deliberately, police have said. |
| 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. |
| Police said the doors of the house in Tremellen Street, Accrington, were locked from inside and accelerants were used. A murder inquiry is under way. | Police said the doors of the house in Tremellen Street, Accrington, were locked from inside and accelerants were used. A murder inquiry is under way. |
| 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's burns unit, where he is said to be in a critical condition. | He had to be resuscitated by a firefighter at the scene and is being treated in Wythenshawe Hospital's burns unit, where he is said to be in a critical condition. |
| Early indications are that whoever set the fire did not leave the premises Det Supt Mick Gradwell | Early indications are that whoever set the fire did not leave the premises Det Supt Mick Gradwell |
| Det Supt Mick Gradwell, leading the investigation, said officers were waiting to speak to Mr Riaz at his bedside. | Det Supt Mick Gradwell, leading the investigation, said officers were waiting to speak to Mr Riaz at his bedside. |
| 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. |
| At a press conference, police said there were several seats of fire which were started using flammable materials. | |
| They are now appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area on Tuesday night to come forward. | |
| Mr Gradwell said: "The house was secured and locked from the inside. | Mr Gradwell said: "The house was secured and locked from the inside. |
| "Early indications are that whoever set the fire, and carried out some other suspicious activity I can't go into at this stage, did not leave the premises. | "Early indications are that whoever set the fire, and carried out some other suspicious activity I can't go into at this stage, did not leave the premises. |
| "However, I can't discount that a scene has been staged to suggest this." | "However, I can't discount that a scene has been staged to suggest this." |
| The sense of loss, the sense of tragedy and the sense of disbelief is quite staggering Ch Supt David Mallaby | The sense of loss, the sense of tragedy and the sense of disbelief is quite staggering Ch Supt David Mallaby |
| The house has been sealed off while police forensic officers examine the scene. Post-mortem examinations of the bodies were taking place on Wednesday. | The house has been sealed off while police forensic officers examine the scene. Post-mortem examinations of the bodies were taking place on Wednesday. |
| Mr Gradwell said: "It is a murder inquiry because the fire was set deliberately with accelerants used. This is a deliberate fire and there is no evidence that anybody left that house. | Mr Gradwell said: "It is a murder inquiry because the fire was set deliberately with accelerants used. This is a deliberate fire and there is no evidence that anybody left that house. |
| "The indications are at the moment it is contained within that family." | "The indications are at the moment it is contained within that family." |
| Mr Gradwell extended his deepest sympathies to the Riaz family and said officers were now working with relatives to build up a picture of them. | Mr Gradwell extended his deepest sympathies to the Riaz family and said officers were now working with relatives to build up a picture of them. |
| He revealed that all of the people who died in the fire were found in their beds. | |
| Ch Supt David Mallaby, divisional commander for the Accrington area, said there was a deep sense of loss in the community. | Ch Supt David Mallaby, divisional commander for the Accrington area, said there was a deep sense of loss in the community. |
| "Rarely if ever have I come across a tragedy of this nature, particularly when one considers the extent to which it may well have been a deliberate event. | "Rarely if ever have I come across a tragedy of this nature, particularly when one considers the extent to which it may well have been a deliberate event. |
| "The sense of loss, the sense of tragedy and the sense of disbelief is quite staggering." | "The sense of loss, the sense of tragedy and the sense of disbelief is quite staggering." |