House fire father dies
Emergency services were called to the house at about 02:00 GMT on Wednesday
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Friday, 03, Nov 2006 07:57
The father of four young girls who died along with their mother in a house fire in Lancashire has died in hospital.
Muhammad Riaz, 49, who had been rescued from the burning terraced home in Tremellen Street, Accrington, in the early hours of Wednesday, died this morning.
In a statement, Lancashire police said: "Mohammed Riaz died at 08:33 GMT today in Wythenshawe hospital.
"A post mortem examination will be held in due course and the death will be referred to the coroner."
Mr Riaz's four daughters, Sairah, 16, Sophia, 15, Alisha, ten, and Hannah, three, and their mother Caneze Riaz, 39, died in the fire. The cause of death for all five was said to be smoke inhalation.
Police had been hoping to question Mr Riaz in relation to the cause of the fire, which they believe was deliberately started from inside using accelerants.
And they now say that, although the investigation into the fire will continue, no one else is being sought in connection with the blaze.
Speaking on Wednesday after the fire, Lancashire police said that there were "several seats of fire" and that the house was secure and locked from inside.
"The early indications are that whoever set the fire did not leave the premises," Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell, who is leading the investigation, told reporters.
A fifth child, 17-year-old Adam, was not in the house at the time of the fire as he is being treated at hospital for leukaemia.
It is understood he has been told of the death of his sisters and parents.