Manchester house fire that killed three children was 'targeted attack', say police

Detectives 'have made significant progress in this investigation', says Chief Superintendent Wayne Miller

Forensic officers at the scene of a house fire on Jackson Street in Worsley, Greater Manchester, as a murder inquiry has been launched after three children died following the fire (PA)

The Salford house fire that killed three children was a “targeted attack”, police said, following analysis of CCTV footage.

Demi Pearson, 14, was killed in the blaze on Jackson Street, Worsley. Her siblings Brandon, eight, and Lacie, seven, died later in hospital.

Their mother Michelle, 35, and a younger sister, aged just three, were still “fighting for their lives”, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

A pair of 16-year-old boys including Ms Pearson’s son, Kyle, managed to free themselves before fire crews arrived and put out the flames in the early hours of Monday morning.

Kyle is thought to have tried to get back into the home to help his family, but was beaten back by flames and smoke.

Chief Superintendent Wayne Miller told reporters the family had been left “completely devastated”.

He added: “We now have a much deeper understanding of the devastating events which led to the tragic deaths of three children in Walkden in the early hours of yesterday morning, and have made significant progress in this investigation. We have collected CCTV from the area and now believe this to be a targeted attack on this house."

Chief Supt Wayne Miller, of Greater Manchester Police, speaks at a press conference (BBC)

Detectives have arrested five people on suspicion of murder, he said, adding that two of them, aged 19 and 20 years have subsequently been released on bail.

A 24-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has also been released on bail.

The Pearsons had been living under threat. Security measures were put in place at their mid-terrace home, including the fitting of a device to the property’s letterbox.

The arrangements, known as target hardening, are generally used to strengthen a building to protect it in the event of an attack.

GMP confirmed there had been “earlier incidents” at the address.

Additional reporting by PA