Porn club death toll increases to nine

A NINTH victim of the arson attack at a pornographic film club in London died yesterday, as detectives continued to question a suspect about the incident.

The latest victim was named last night as Matthew Scowan, 26, from Earls Court, west London, who died in the burns unit at St Andrew's Hospital, Billericay, Essex. A post-mortem examination will be held in London today.

He suffered severe burns during the fire at the Dream City Cinema Club, near Smithfield market, which began when petrol was thrown into the doorway and ignited, trapping up to 50 men watching sex films.

Another of those who died was named yesterday as Sam Huston, 73, of Kensington, west London. The names of two victims have not yet been released.

Police are still questioning a man who gave himself up at Walthamstow police station in north-east London on Monday. Detectives are treating what he has told them seriously, although high-profile cases like this can attract false confessions. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'A 34-year-old man remains in custody at Islington police station. He will be interviewed in connection with the fire attack.'

Detectives had been hunting a man seen walking towards the unlicensed private film club carrying a red plastic petrol container on Saturday. There has been speculation that the attack was the work of a customer thrown out after a fight.

Thirteen men injured in the fire are still in hospital, three of them in critical condition. Another is seriously ill, three have made a slight improvement and six others are comfortable.