Man arrested after two children die in flat blaze

A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder after two young children died and a woman was left critically injured in a fire at a flat in Nottingham.

The blaze broke out in the first-floor flat of a two-storey building in Fairisle Close, Clifton, at around 3.17am on Sunday. A woman, thought to be in her thirties, and two children, aged three and one, were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation before being taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.

The two children were pronounced dead at the hospital, Nottinghamshire Police said, while the woman remains in a critical condition.

A 31-year-old man from Clifton was arrested on Sunday evening on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, detectives said. He remained in custody for questioning overnight.

Detective Chief Inspector Greg Mcgill, who is leading the investigation, said: “This is a deeply tragic incident and we have a large team working tirelessly to understand the full circumstances.

“Whilst we have now made an arrest, the investigation remains at an early stage and we are continuing to appeal to anyone who has even the slightest bit of information, or even CCTV or dash-cam footage, to please come forward.”

The blaze was extinguished at around 4am. Neighbouring buildings were evacuated during the incident.

A local resident, who asked not to be named, was alerted by a fire engine’s lights while watching a film, and then saw smoke billowing from the rear windows of the first-floor flat.

He said the older child was brought out of the property first, with the oneyear-old being carried out by a firefighter shortly after. “It’s sickening. I feel so sorry for the family.”