Murder probe after two children die and woman critically injured in flat fire

The blaze broke out on the first floor of the building

Police at the scene in Nottingham after two children died and a woman was left critically injured (PA)

A murder investigation has been launched after two children were killed and a woman was critically injured in a fire at a flat in Nottingham. The fire took hold on the first floor of a two-storey residential property in Fairlisle Close, Clifton, at around 3.17am on Sunday, Nottinghamshire Police said.

Fire crews tackled the blaze, and the flames were extinguished at around 4am. Neighbouring buildings were temporarily evacuated during the incident.

A woman and two children aged three and one were taken to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham after being treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. Despite the efforts of medical staff, the two children were pronounced dead at the hospital, but the woman remains in a critical condition, police said.

A local resident, who asked not to be named, was alerted by a fire engine’s lights while watching a film, and then saw smoke billowing from the rear windows of the first-floor flat.

He told reporters: “I saw the blue lights and smoke was coming out of the top windows.”

The eyewitness said the older child was brought out of the property first, with the one-year-old being carried out by a single firefighter shortly afterwards.

Estimating that CPR was then carried out at the scene for around 20 minutes, the man added: “It was dark and raining and with the smoke I couldn’t see what was happening behind the fire engine.

“It’s sickening. I feel so sorry for the family. How is she going to feel when she finds out she’s lost the children?”

Detective Chief Inspector Greg McGill, who is leading the investigation, said: “These are tragic and very sad circumstances, and my thoughts are with the family of those involved. Following a joint investigation with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, we have established that the fire was started deliberately.

The fire occurred in the first floor flat of a two-storey residential property in Fairlisle Close, Clifton (PA)

“We are appealing for witnesses who were in the area at that time and saw something suspicious to please come forward and help us with the investigation. We have a team of detectives who are working hard to establish the circumstances, and our enquiries remain in their early stages.”

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to submit it to the Public Portal (mipp.police.uk).

If you would prefer to speak to police, please call 101 and ask for Nottinghamshire Police, quoting incident 0110_20112022, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org