Two people were allegedly killed in a house fire in Middlesbrough this morning amid concerns it was a gangland revenge attack after the A66 crash that killed seven.
A murder investigation was launched and armed officers from Cleveland Police were on scene in Grangetown, near South Bank where the collision happened on Saturday.
Officers were called to the house at 5.23am where two people were confirmed dead after the blaze, which destroyed the roof although the property itself did not collapse.
Another woman is at Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle in a critical condition and a further three people were being treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Residents who woke up after the fire took hold revealed some occupants managed to escape. One said: ‘Some people got out, and a few people did not. It’s tragic.’
Paramedics, firefighters and gas engineers were also gathered outside the house on Birchington Avenue this morning. Police said the scene has yet to be fully examined.
Local ten-year-old girl Ciara Randle, who lives near the property and spoke with her mother’s permission, said: ‘I woke up to screaming, dogs barking and sirens, very early. The sun had only just come up. I told my mum as soon as we got up.
‘We realised there had been a fire. We’re very shocked. The fire had been put out by then, but there was smoke, and the house was smouldering.’
Her mother Theresa Randle, 42, a carer, added: ‘We don’t know the people in the house very well, but we say hello to them. The poor family. We feel so sad for them.
‘By the time we got up, the fire had been put out. We don’t know what happened. It’s a tragedy, especially so soon after the crash at the weekend.’
Emergency services at the scene of the fire in the Grangetown area of Middlesbrough today
Fire crews investigate following the major fire on Birchington Avenue in Grangetown today
The roof of the home was destroyed in today’s fire although the property itself did not collapse
Two people died following the major fire in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, this morning
Police officers patrol the scene this morning following the residential fire in Grangetown
Cleveland Fire Brigade was called at 5.23am today to the incident in Grangetown
The families of the people who died have been informed, and officers said their ‘thoughts are with them and the families of everyone involved in this incident at this extremely difficult time’.
Superintendent Emily Harrison, Redcar and Cleveland Local Policing Commander, said: ‘This is a tragic incident which has sadly resulted in the deaths of a number of people this morning, and their families are being supported by specially trained officers.
‘We are working to establish the circumstances of exactly what has happened, but we are keeping an open mind and cannot rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time.
‘We will have a high visibility presence in the Grangetown area as this investigation progresses, and to provide reassurance to local communities, who will no doubt be impacted by this tragic incident.
‘We encourage anyone who has concerns, or who may have information regarding the incident in the early hours of this morning, to approach one of our officers or to contact Cleveland Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously.’
A Cleveland Fire Brigade spokesman said firefighters were ‘called at 5.23am this morning to an incident on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown’.
They added: ‘Crews are currently dealing with a house fire, with six fire engines and the Incident Command Unit at the scene.
‘Road closures are in place in the surrounding area, and we are asking members of the public to avoid the area where possible to allow emergency services to work safely.
‘The incident remains ongoing and further updates will be provided when available.’
Separately, police have arrested 17 people following the A66 crash on Saturday morning between a Volkswagen Passat, which was heading in the wrong direction on the dual-carriageway, and a marked armed response vehicle.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were the officers killed.
Those in the Passat were Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Passat had been pursued by police following an earlier incident in which a house in the Acklam area of Middlesbrough, linked to Worthy, was rammed by a vehicle.
Theo Rae (left) and Cole Worthy (right), both 17, were among those who died in the A66 crash
Jakub Matusiak (left), 23, and Makai Saddington (right), 18, also died in the crash on Saturday
Michael Cahill, 23, was the only person in the car who had no convictions before the crash
PC Matthew Blades, a father of two, was killed when his police vehicle was struck head-on
PC Tom Clough also died in the crash, ten seconds after a police pursuit had been called off
The pursuit was aborted when the Passat went the wrong way down the A66.
Meanwhile, two online fundraisers for the police officers have broken the £1 million barrier.
A GoFundMe page organised by the Cleveland Police Federation has reached more than £959,000 this morning while another GoFundMe page for them had reached over £45,000.
Inquests were due to open this morning for the two officers while hearings for the young men in the Passat were scheduled for the afternoon at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
Police have previously said that the five young men in the Passat may have had links to ‘serious and organised criminal activity’.
Four of the five young men in the car had previous criminal convictions and were believed to be associated with another car which was seen ramming properties earlier that morning.
Police also previously said that on the morning of the collision, the force received several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously.
The first vehicle, believed to be a Volvo XC60, was witnessed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area. The second vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat, is believed to have been associated with the activities of the Volvo.
Police said both vehicles were operating with cloned number plates but were picked up by automated number plate recognition technology. The Volvo XC60 involved in the initial reports has been traced and recovered in Middlesbrough.
PC Blades and PC Clough were not involved in the original pursuit, but had been called to the area to assist with the search for the Passat.
Cleveland Police said anyone who may have information or any concerns about the incident should call 101, quoting reference number 170941. Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111
