Police refuse to rule out arson

Tests carried out at the scene of a house fire which killed a woman and four of her children, suggest that the blaze may have started accidentally.

However, police investigating the blaze which occurred in Harlow, Essex on Monday say they are not ruling the possibility that it was an arson attack although early results do suggest that no accelerant, such as petrol, was used.

Dr Sabah Usmani, her sons Sohaib, 11, and Rayyan, six, and 12-year-old daughter Hira died while a third son, Muneeb, nine, and second daughter Maheen, three, were rescued by fire crews. Muneeb later died.