Father critically ill in hospital after two children killed in house fire

THE father of two children who died after a suspected arson attack on their home is critically ill in hospital, police said.

A boy aged eight and a girl, six, were pronounced dead in hospital after the fire in the hallway of a house in Birmingham in the early hours of yesterday.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Slevin, of West Midlands Police, said their father was later found badly hurt with a burnt-out car in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire.

Speaking from where the children died in Holland Road, Hamstead, he said: “We believe these two incidents are connected and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the fire here.”

Mr Slevin said detectives were still trying to establish the cause of the fire, which broke out shortly before 3.40am.

A post-mortem examination is due to take place on the children today. Mr Slevin added the children’s mother was helping the police investigation.

Locals made desperate attempts to help the children after the blaze broke out.

Lashman Sehmar, 66, whose son Raghbir owns the house next door, said he had spoken to his son’s female tenant only that morning.

He said: “She told me that the neighbour over the road from her rushed into the houseandpickeduponeof the children and brought it on to the lawn.”

West Midlands Ambulance Service said its units rushed to the scene and found “two children,aboyandagirl,who were in cardiac arrest”.