Five held after three children die in blaze

FIVE people are being questioned over the suspected murder of three children who died in a house fire, as detectives investigate whether petrol was poured through the letterbox.

Police had urged a murder suspect to hand themselves in after the fire at the mid-terraced house in Salford, Greater Manchester, just before 5am yesterday. A 14-year-old girl, named locally as Demi Pearson, was pronounced dead at the scene while an eight-year-old boy and seven-year-old girl, understood to be called Lacie, later died in hospital.

The children’s 35-year-old mother, named locally as Michelle Pearson, is in a serious condition while a fourth sibling, a three-year-old girl, is critically ill. Two 16-year-old boys, who were also in the house, managed to free themselves before fire crews arrived.

Greater Manchester Police said three men, aged 23, 20 and 18, and a 20-yearold woman have been arrested on suspicion of murder. A 24-year-old man is also being questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender. Police confirmed there were “earlier incidents” at the address and said the force had made a self-referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.