A MURDER INVESTIGATION has been launched in Greater Manchester after three children died in a suspicious house fire.
Greater Manchester Police said that shortly before 5am this morning police were called to Jackson Street in Walkden to reports of a house fire.
The fire service brought the fire under control and managed to rescue seven people inside.
A14 year-old girl died at the scene of the blaze. The others were taken to hospital where an eight-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl later died.
A three year old girl is currently in a critical condition and a 35-year-old woman is in a serious condition in hospital.
Two 16-year-old boys were able to escape the property.
Police said that there have been earlier incidents at the address and consequently a referral to the prosecutor has been made.
Chief Superintendent Wayne Miller of the GMP said that the deaths were “heartbreaking” and that a murder investigation had been launched.
“We have launched a murder investigation and have a suspect in mind who we are urgently seeking in relation to this attack. All I will say is – he knows who he is and he should give himself up,” he said.
“We are appealing for witnesses to the fire, anyone who saw anything or who may know the people involved to please come forward and tell us what you know.
I stress, we are dealing with the murder of three children here, any information, no matter how small, is very important to the family and the investigation.
Miller said that the investigation was “fast moving” and that a major investigation team with scores of dedicated detectives was working tirelessly.
“I want to describe what this incident is; it’s the murder, using fire, of three children and we have a three-year-old girl fighting for her life who is seriously ill,” he said.
“This will devastate this family forever and words cannot describe what they are going through. We need the public’s help to find the answers the family deserve.
We want to make arrests as soon as possible and we appeal to local people to help us in this.
Anyone with any information in England is asked to contact police on 0161 856 8797 alternatively call 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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