THE PARENTS OF the six children who died in a house fire in the English city of Derby a fortnight ago have been arrested on suspicion of murder.
BBC News reports that Mick Philpott, 55, and his wife, Mairead, 31, were arrested in Derby today and are due to be questioned in relation to the house fire on Victory Road on 11 May.
The fire killed 10-year-old Jade Philpott, John Philpott, nine, Jack Philpott, seven, Jessie Philpott, six, and Jayden Philpott, five, with 13-year-old Duwayne Philpott dying in hospital a few days later having been on life support at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
In a statement, Derbyshire Police did not identify the two people arrested but confirmed their ages and that they were in custody.
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill said: “I suspect there may still be people with crucial information who have not yet come forward to speak to us.
“In view of the arrests, I would urge anyone who may have been holding back, not felt comfortable to voice their concerns or not had the confidence, to do so now. They have my personal reassurance that we will deal with their information sensitively.
“We still need information to help us in this inquiry. The latest arrests are just one step further in the investigation. It is absolutely vital that if you know anything you think could help us, come forward now, do not wait any longer. It is important that we find justice for these six young children.”
Cotterill said that investigation is still ongoing, that it was complex and that it could be a lengthy process before the circumstances of what happened are established.
“Our investigations are detailed and painstaking and they will take time,” he said.
Police had arrested a 38-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman in the days after the fire on suspicion of murder but they were both subsequently released without charge.
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