Leicester fire deaths: Father pays tribute

A NEUROSURGEON whose wife and children were killed in a house fire has said he “deeply misses” his family.

Muhammad Taufiq Al Sattar: Tribute. Picture: PA

Five people have been arrested in connection with the suspected arson attack, which claimed the lives of Muhammad Taufiq Al Sattar’s wife, who was in her forties, his 19-year-old daughter and two sons, aged 17 and 15, in Leicester on Friday.

Sattar, who works in Dublin, made a statement a day after learning of the deaths on his return to the UK. He said he hoped justice would prevail and thanked his local community for their support.

He said: “I deeply miss my beautiful wife and three beautiful children. What has happened has happened and nothing can be reversed, but I hope justice prevails and in future this should not happen to any family in the UK.”

Minutes after speaking of his loss yesterday, Leicestershire Police said three women aged 19, 20, and 27, and two men, aged 49 and 19, were detained over the fatal blaze.

It is feared the family’s property was targeted by mistake in a revenge attack following a fatal assault in nearby Kent Street. Inquiries have found no evidence to suggest anyone who lived at the fire-hit property was involved.

Leicestershire’s Assistant Chief Constable, Roger Bannister, said: “While 
we are investigating links between the two crimes, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest those who died in the fire, or indeed anyone else who lives in that property, was involved in the assault in Kent Street.”