Man arrested on suspicion of murder after mother and three children die in house fire in England

LONDON– A man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Wednesday after allegedly setting a house fire in northern England that killed a mother and her three children, police said.

An initial investigation has shown that the fire, which was reported shortly after 2 a.m. in the city of Bradford, was deliberately set and is likely a domestic crime, police said.

Bryonie Gawith, 29, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her three children, Denisty Birtle, 9, Oscar Birtle, 5, and Aubree Birtle, 22 months, died of their injuries in hospital.

The 39-year-old suspect, who was seriously injured, was arrested at home and taken to hospital.

“This is an absolutely devastating incident in which three children and a woman have lost their lives,” said Det. Chief Inspector Stacey Atkinson of West Yorkshire Police. “Our thoughts are with their family, friends and loved ones.”

A neighbor, Lindsey Pearson, said her daughter had heard screaming and shouting coming from the direction of the house earlier.

When Pearson saw flames in the sky, she thought the nursing home where she works up the mountain might be on fire, so she and her son-in-law headed there. But they were stopped by police and not allowed through.

“They said there were people inside, it was a house fire,” Pearson said. “We just wanted to help. It's absolutely horrible. Everyone was so upset.”