Couple quizzed over six fire deaths (From Witney Gazette)

Couple quizzed over six fire deaths

3:29am Wednesday 30th May 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

A mother and father are being held on suspicion of murder following an arson attack at their home which left six of their children dead.

Mick Philpott and his wife Mairead were arrested in Derby city centre on Tuesday in connection with the blaze at the house on May 11.

Five of their children - Jade, 10, John, nine, Jack, seven, Jessie, six, and Jayden, five - died in the fire, and a sixth - Duwayne, 13 - died of his injuries in Birmingham Children's Hospital two days later.

Petrol was used to start the blaze at the house in Victory Road, Allenton, Derby, police have revealed.

Derbyshire Police said a 55-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman from Derby were detained together on Tuesday but did not name them. They were taken into custody to be questioned over the arson.

The force said the arrests were "just one step further" in the investigation and urged people with crucial information to come forward.

Five days after the fire, Mr and Mrs Philpott faced the media in an emotional press conference.

Mr Philpott thanked those who tried to rescue his children and spoke of how he and his wife had decided to donate Duwayne's organs for transplant, saying it "takes a bit of the pain away". The 55-year-old, who is believed to have fathered 17 children, was said by police to have made "valiant" efforts to rescue his children during the blaze.

Dubbed "Shameless Mick" in 2007 after demanding a larger council house, he is well known in the local community because of media reports about his large family, and has also appeared in a reality TV show alongside former government minister Ann Widdecombe.

Forensic examinations are continuing at the Philpotts' semi-detached house, which was cordoned off and guarded by uniformed officers on Tuesday. A mobile police office van was also parked outside the property, where numerous floral tributes still lay.