‘I deeply miss my wife and 3 children’

A neurosurgeon has spoken of his grief after his family was killed in a suspected arson attack as police continue to question five people over the fatal house fire.

Muhammad Taufiq Al Sattar said he would “deeply miss” his “beautiful” wife, daughter, and two teenage sons who died in a fire at their home in Wood Hill, Leicester, and called for justice to prevail.

Three women aged 19, 20, and 27, and two men aged 49 and 19 were arrested in connection with the fatal blaze, Leicestershire police said. The 19 year-old man was released without charge yesterday. Last night an 18-year-old man was arrested.

Mr Sattar, who works in Ireland, spoke publicly after special prayers were said for his family at his local mosque on Saturday, just a day after learning of the deaths on his return to the UK. “All of you know of the tragic incident in which my entire family has passed away. 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.”

Shehnila Taufiq, who was in her 40s, died with her 19-year-old daughter Zainab and sons Bilal, 17, and Jamal, 15, in the fire in the early hours of Friday.

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

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 St.

“Because of the close proximity — in terms of time and location — of the two incidents, it is right that we look at whether there are links between the two crimes.

“However, at this stage in our investigations we have found nothing to suggest the residents of the house devastated by the fire had anything to do with the Kent St incident.”

A man and two women were arrested in connection with the Kent St murder.

The two women were released without charge yesterday. The women, both aged 19, were arrested in the Warwickshire area at about 4pm on Friday. The man questioned over the death of Antoin Akpom, who is also aged 19, was arrested in London at around 5.30pm on Friday.

Before making his statement to the media, Mr Sattar also spoke to around 1,500 worshippers during prayers at the Jame Mosque in Spinney Hill.

Describing Mr Sattar’s “passionate” speech to the congregation, Imam andteacher Muhammad Uwais told reporters: “He said that he has been comforted by the condolences received from the community in Leicester and throughout the UK and abroad.

“He said he had come to Leicester in 2007 after being impressed with its community and its educational system. He was adamant that he will not sit in a corner but carry on his family’s mission of being good representatives of their faith, and he urged the congregation to do the exact same.”

Speaking at the headquarters of Leicestershire police, Mr Bannister appealed for information to assist inquiries into the fatal fire and the murder in Kent St.

The senior officer said: “Two families have been devastated, whole communities have been rocked by these two events. If you know anything at all, please don’t hold back, listen to your conscience and contact us.”