Murder probe after house fire kills child in Middlesbrough's Grangetown
Two people, including a child, died in a house fire in Grangetown, Middlesbrough. Police have arrested two men and are not ruling out links to organised crime.
Murder inquiry opened after fatal Grangetown blaze with possible organised crime links
A murder investigation has been launched after two people — including a child — were killed in a house fire in the Grangetown area of Middlesbrough in the early hours of Wednesday, The Guardian UK reports. Cleveland Police said they cannot rule out connections to organised crime or to a fatal road collision that occurred nearby just days earlier.
A woman was left in a critical condition in hospital following the blaze, while three other people sustained injuries not considered life-threatening. Two men, aged 23 and 31, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Possible links to A66 crash
The fire comes as Cleveland Police continue to investigate the broader circumstances surrounding a collision on the A66 on Saturday, in which seven people were killed — among them two police officers. The Grangetown location of the fire sits approximately two miles from the scene of that crash.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died when a Volkswagen Passat travelling in the wrong direction struck their police vehicle head-on. The five occupants of the Passat were also killed: Cole Worthy and Theo Rae, both 17; Makai Saddington, 18; and Michael Robert Cahill and Jakub Matusiak, both 23. Police have said those five individuals may have had links to serious and organised criminal activity. Four of the five held criminal convictions and were believed to be associated with another vehicle seen ramming properties earlier that morning.
Police: 17 arrests since Saturday
Supt Emily Harrison, Redcar and Cleveland's local policing commander, said of the house fire: "We continue to work to establish the circumstances of exactly what has happened, but we are keeping an open mind and cannot rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time."
Since Saturday's collision, Cleveland Police said they have "continued to disrupt those suspected of being involved in serious and organised crime", resulting in 17 arrests.
Wayne Fox, assistant chief constable leading the strategic direction of the investigation, described it as "a fast-moving and complex investigation, with significant links to serious and organised criminal activity." He added: "The events of that tragic night will have a lasting and profound impact on the Cleveland area and the communities we seek to protect. Our robust response will continue in the weeks and months to come."
Neighbours describe scenes of chaos
Cleveland Fire Brigade deployed six fire engines and an incident command unit to the scene. Road closures were put in place, with a spokesperson asking members of the public to avoid the area where possible.
Residents near the Grangetown property described desperate attempts to help those inside. Ellie, a 20-year-old neighbour who declined to give her surname, said: "The entire house was scorching. I couldn't get near the front of the house, it was that hot." She described holding the hand of a woman who had jumped from an upstairs window until paramedics arrived.
Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "My daughter heard shouting and screaming … the dogs were barking."
Adam Brook, a Redcar and Cleveland borough council member for Grangetown, called the fire "absolutely devastating". He said many residents had contacted him throughout the morning and urged people "not to speculate or share unconfirmed information".
Inquests to open Thursday
Inquests into the deaths of PC Blades and PC Clough are due to be opened in Middlesbrough on Thursday morning. Inquests for the other five people killed in Saturday's collision are scheduled to open that afternoon.
Source: The Guardian UK