Two children killed in 'suspicious' blaze as suspect father found injured in burnt-out car
Two children have died after a house fire, with their father found critically injured 30 miles away in a fire-damaged car.
Police revealed the man and his car, a Vauxhall Insignia, were found near Newcastle-under-Lyme around three hours after the blaze.
Emergency services were called to a report of a fire at the semi-detached house, in Holland Road, Hamstead, Great Barr, at around 3.40am.
Thirteen firefighters were sent to the scene and put out a blaze in the hallway of the house. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
UPDATE: Neighbours despair as post-mortems due on siblings killed in blaze
Police have said that the blaze was 'suspicious'.
A boy and a girl were found 'unwell' inside and were taken outside onto the lawn before neighbours, firefighters and paramedics made desperate attempts to save them.
The pair were then taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination is due to take place on the children on Saturday.
Their mother, aged 36, was also assessed by the ambulance service but did not suffer any serious injuries.
Police said she is being treated as a witness and is helping officers while being supported by specially trained officers.
Lashman Sehmar, 66, whose son Raghbir owns the house next door, said he had spoken to his son's female tenant on Friday morning.
He said: "She told me that the neighbour over the road from her rushed into the house and picked up one of the children and brought it on to the lawn."
Meanwhile the children's father is being treated in hospital after he was found critically injured with his burnt-out car 34 miles away on Whitmore Road, Butterton, shortly after 7am.
Police believe the two incidents are connected and are not hunting anyone else in relation to the house blaze, but they remain keen to speak to anyone who was in the area or who saw a Vauxhall Insignia in the early hours of the morning.
A woman at the scene who did not want to be identified said she was a care worker colleague of the children's mother.
She told the Press Association: "It's just so wicked what's happened - we're just trying to deal with it.
"She was supposed to come to work this morning so we tried calling her but there was no answer.
"I'm sorry ... I can't go on."
Detective Chief Inspector Martin Slevin, from Force CID, said: "This is an absolutely tragic set of circumstances and my thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.
"We are still at the early stages of understanding exactly what happened and why – but I can confirm we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this investigation."
"I am still keen to hear from anyone who was in the area in the early hours of this morning and who has not yet spoken to us.
"I also want to urge anyone who saw a Vauxhall Insignia in or around the area this morning to contact my team."
Three ambulances were sent to the scene.
West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Jamie Arrowsmith said: "On arrival, crews found two children, a boy and a girl, who were in cardiac arrest.
"Bystanders had already started CPR which crews took over before also administering advanced life support.
"Treatment continued en-route to hospital with the boy being taken to Sandwell Hospital and the girl to Birmingham Children's Hospital.
"Unfortunately, shortly after their arrival at the hospitals, it became clear that nothing could be done to save either child and they were confirmed deceased.
"A third patient, a woman, was assessed and discharged at the scene."
West Midlands Fire Service said: "Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished a fire in the hallway of the house, and our crews helped to give CPR to two children before they were taken to hospital by West Midlands Ambulance Service.
"Tragically, the boy and girl were later confirmed to have died. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with everyone affected by this incident.
"The fire is being treated as suspicious, and our investigators are working with police scenes of crime officers to establish how it started."
Ward councillor David Hosell spoke of his sadness at the deaths to the Express & Star.
He said: "As with all of the ward councillors, we send our sympathies to the families.
"It is an absolute tragedy, and should never have happened. The police are investigating at the moment so we will not be saying any more at this time."
Contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
