Great Barr house blaze: Police still waiting to quiz father over death of young children
Police are today still waiting to quiz the father of two children killed after a suspected arson attack in Great Barr – as he remains heavily sedated in hospital.
Endris Mohammed, 46, was rescued from a burned-out car 50 miles away from the home where a blaze broke out hours earlier.
His two children, eight-year-old Saros Endris and Leanor, aged six, were taken to hospital after Friday's fire, but could not be saved.
Mohammed remains in hospital after his fire-gutted Vauxhall was discovered in Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffs, just after 7am on Friday morning.
MORE: 'Golden' young siblings killed in house blaze
The find came just hours after the fire broke out at the house in Holland Road, killing the two young children.
West Midlands Police has confirmed they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
Neighbours spoke of their sadness, saying the brother and sister had often been seen playing happily in and around the home in Holland Road.
Their mother, Penil Teklehaimamot aged 36, did not suffer any serious injuries and is being treated as a witness.
Adam Adkins, 42, who works in computing, said: "It was a horrible noise and then I heard the mother wailing.
"I looked outside the window and saw all the blue lights and saw a very small body lying on the grass in front of the house.
"The fire crew were doing CPR for what seemed like a really long time. It must have been at least 20 minutes.
"Both children were lying on the grass and there was a figure, I think it was the mum, hunched over them, wailing. It's terrible."
Zainab Harun, who lives nearby, said she would see the children riding their bikes and coming home from school.
She said: "I used to talk to them whenever they walked past. It's a sad, terrible thing that has happened here.
"I have two children and I keep playing it over and over again in my head."
Detective Inspector Justin Spanner, from Force CID is leading the investigation.
He said: "We are still at the early stages of understanding exactly what happened and why – but at this time I can confirm we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this investigation.
Anyone with information which may help DI Justin Spanner should call 101. Alternatively, people can contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
