Middlesbrough fire live: Girl, 7, and aunt die in house fire as police probe gangland revenge theory

Middlesbrough fire live: Girl, 7, and aunt die in house fire as police probe gangland revenge theory Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a house fire in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, left two people - including a child - dead and four others injured A seven-year-old girl and her aunt have been named locally as the two victims of a fatal house fire in Middlesbrough, as police investigate whether the blaze could be linked to a 'gangland dispute' that led to a crash on the A66 on Saturday. Valentina Foster, seven, and her aunt, Natalie McDonald, 34, died in the devastating fire at a house on Birchington Avenue in Grangetown this morning, according to reports. Two men, aged 23 and 31, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody. Cleveland Police said officers were called to the property shortly before 5.30am. The force said officers "cannot rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time" as they investigate the circumstances surrounding the blaze. One woman remains in a critical condition at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), while three others are in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The house fire occurred less than a mile from the scene of the A66 crash that killed seven people - five young males and two police officers - in the early hours of Saturday. The tragedy happened when a Volkswagen Passat, which was travelling the wrong way along the dual carriageway while evading police, collided with a police car. Key Events Police have confirmed that a 48-year-old woman remains in the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in a critical condition. The force added a further three people suffered injuries which are believed, at this time, to be non life-threatening. Redcar and Cleveland Local Policing Commander Supt Emily Harrison said the force was working to "establish the circumstances of exactly what has happened". "We will have a high visibility presence in the Grangetown area and encourage anyone who has concerns, or who may have information, to approach our officers." Cleveland Police is not ruling out a link between this morning's house fire in Grangetown, which left two people dead, and the A66 crash in the early hours of Saturday, which left seven people dead. The force said investigators "cannot rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time". But Adam Brook, Redcar and Cleveland borough councillor for Grangetown, urged people "not to speculate or share unconfirmed information". Police previously said the five young males killed in the A66 crash may have had links to "serious and organised criminal activity", and that four of them had previous convictions. Andy Preston, who served as mayor of Middlesbrough from 2019 to 2023, told The Telegraph he fears "things could escalate" following the house fire in Grangetown. "From this awful point, things could escalate or peter out," he told the newspaper. "Escalation will be carnage and further wound the communities that are already on their knees." The blaze happened less than a mile from the scene of Saturday's fatal crash on the A66 in South Bank. A Volkswagen Passat was travelling the wrong way on the dual carriageway while evading police when it collided with a police car, killing the five young males inside the Passat and the two police constables in the police vehicle. Tributes have been paid online to seven-year-old Valentina Foster and her aunt, Natalie McDonald. One tribute read: "Life is so cruel my beautiful granddaughter Valentina. Your dad will be waiting for you." As we reported in the blog post below, the victims of the house fire have been named locally as seven-year-old Valentina Foster and her 34-year-old aunt, Natalie McDonald. Lisa Kirton, Ms McDonald's mother, told The Times: "Natalie’s husband is in intensive care and has been put in an induced coma. There is speculation that the fire was caused on purpose, but I don’t really know much about what happened. "We live opposite and were woken up at about 5am, and there were people getting dragged out of fires when we were there at the scene. We were waiting for Natalie to come out, and after about three hours, police told us she had died." A seven-year-old girl and her aunt have been named locally as the two victims of a fatal house fire. Valentina Foster and her aunt, Natalie McDonald, 34, died in the house fire in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, early this morning, according to reports. Lisa Kirton, Ms McDonald's mother, told The Times that her daughter "was a beautiful, bubbly person who everyone knew" and that Valentina was "a very cute girl". She said: "Natalie had a heart of gold who would give anyone anything. She left behind a daughter with no parents. "We’re still in the hospital with the daughter - she and her friend kicked out the glass from the back door window and they managed to escape. Natalie’s daughter is 15. Her father died two years ago so this child is not in a good way." Ms Kirton said Valentina was the daughter of Ms McDonald’s husband’s brother. "She had been staying at the house for the school summer holidays. She was a very cute girl and was Natalie's niece," she said. The Mirror's Jeremy Armstrong is reporting from the scene. He says it is understood that a family member of one of the victims of the Grangetown house fire knew one of the five young males who was killed in the A66 crash. Cleveland Police said it "cannot rule out any links to wider organised crime" after a house fire in Middlesbrough in which a seven-year-old girl is feared to have been killed. Two people - including a child - were killed in the house fire which is feared to be a gangland revenge attack following the A66 tragedy that left two police officers dead. Two men, aged 23 and 31, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody. The force confirmed that a child had died in the tragedy, but has yet to confirm their age and gender. Redcar and Cleveland Local Policing Commander, Superintendent Emily Harrison, said: "We continue to work to establish the circumstances of exactly what has happened. But are keeping an open mind and cannot rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time." Councillor Robert Clark, who represents the Teesville ward on Redcar and Cleveland Council, said it was "another incredibly difficult day for our community". "I honestly don’t know how much more heartache our little town can take," he wrote in a post on Facebook. "After everything that has happened over the last few weeks, waking up to the awful scenes in Grangetown this morning is just devastating." He added that his "thoughts are with everyone affected and their families". Following the announcement of the arrests, Superintendent Emily Harrison, Redcar and Cleveland local policing commander, said: "As we continue to investigate this morning’s tragic incident, we continue to support the families of those who have sadly died as a result. "Our thoughts remain with those families and with everyone involved. Two men, aged 23 and 31, remain in police custody at this time and they are being questioned. "We continue to work to establish the circumstances of exactly what has happened. "We will have a high visibility presence in the Grangetown area and encourage anyone who has concerns, or who may have information, to approach our officers or alternatively call us on 101." A child is among two people who were killed in a house fire in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, Cleveland Police said. The victims have not yet been formally identified. Two men, aged 23 and 31, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody, the force added. Councillor Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, has released a statement on social media saying that one of the two people who died in this morning's fire was a child. The statement reads as follows: "There are no words for the loss of a child. As a parent, my heart goes out to those impacted by this morning's tragedy in Grangetown. "As Council Leader, I have ordered our social care teams to offer as much support as possible, which they would [have] done anyway. "I have asked for an urgent community safety briefing. There are people badly injured with 2 lost, including a child, as you are maybe seeing now in the local press and social media. "I sincerely hope those responsible are hunted down and brought to justice as soon as possible by the police and would urge members of the public not to get involved, but to share any information directly with the police. I have complete faith in Cleveland Police." - A murder investigation has been launched after a fatal house fire in the Grangetown area of Middlesbrough this morning - Two people died in the fire, and one woman remains in a critical condition at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI). A further three people are in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries - Cleveland Police said officers were called to the house on Birchington Avenue at 5.23am today - The fire happened less than a mile from the site of the A66 crash, where five young people and two police officers were killed on Saturday morning - One neighbour told the Mirror's Jeremy Armstrong that some locals believe two wheelie bins were "left at the front door and set alight" - Neighbours said they woke to "shouting" and "kids screaming" in the early morning - A full examination of the scene is under way - Superintendent Emily Harrison said detectives are "keeping an open mind and cannot rule out any links to wider organised crime at this time" - Cleveland Fire Brigade said six fire appliances from Grangetown, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Saltburn attended the incident - The fire service confirmed at 1.30pm that the blaze had been extinguished and said one engine remained on "proactive standby" - Police will maintain a high-visibility presence in the Grangetown area as the investigation progresses A full examination of the scene at Birchington Avenue is under way after two people died in a house fire and four others were taken to hospital. Anyone who has any information or concerns is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101, quoting reference number 170941. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. As a reminder, Grangetown councillor Adam Brook urged people "not to speculate or share unconfirmed information about what has happened". A map shows Birchington Avenue, in the Grangetown area of Middlesbrough, where a house fire this morning left two people dead. A woman remains in a critical condition at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, while three others suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The fire happened less than a mile from the site of the A66 crash, where five young people and two police officers were killed on Saturday morning. Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak, along with PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were all pronounced dead at the scene. One eyewitness, a 20-year-old called Ellie, heard screaming from the house just after 5am and ran to help when she saw the blaze. “I could hear kids screaming and I was shouting for people to come out and help,” said Ellie, who did not want to give her full name. She added: “Two of the kids got out from upstairs. I was holding the hand of an older woman. “She was in pain and in a bad way. Then they took her away in an ambulance.” A Cleveland Fire Brigade spokesperson has issued an update about the fire, saying the blaze has now been extinguished. They said: "Following Cleveland Fire Brigade’s attendance at a house fire on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown, this morning (Wednesday 26 August), we can confirm that the fire has now been extinguished. "Six fire appliances from Grangetown, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Saltburn attended the incident, along with the Incident Command Unit. One appliance remains at the scene on protective standby. "We can confirm that six people were inside the property at the time of the fire. Tragically, two people have died. One person remains in a critical condition, while three others are receiving treatment." Cllr Adam Brook, Deputy Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland and a Grangetown Ward Councillor, said: "I am absolutely devastated to learn that two people have tragically lost their lives following this morning’s house fire in Grangetown. “My deepest condolences go to their families, loved ones and friends. Behind today’s headlines are two people who were part of our community, and families who are now facing an unimaginable loss. “My thoughts are also with those who remain in hospital following the fire, and with their families and loved ones at what will be an incredibly worrying and difficult time. I sincerely hope they make a full recovery. “Grangetown is a close-knit community and people are understandably shocked and deeply saddened by what has happened. Many residents have been in touch throughout the morning, and I know the whole community will want to support those affected. “I would like to pay tribute to our emergency services and everyone involved in responding to this devastating incident, who have been working in incredibly difficult circumstances. “As investigations continue, I would urge people not to speculate or share unconfirmed information about what has happened. There are grieving families at the heart of this tragedy, and they deserve our compassion, dignity, space and privacy. “This is an incredibly sad day for Grangetown. We are a strong community, and I know we will come together and support one another in the difficult days and weeks ahead. “My thoughts remain first and foremost with the two people we have tragically lost, their families and loved ones, and everyone affected by today’s devastating events.” Superintendent Emily Harrison of Cleveland Police confirmed a murder investigation had been launched after two people died in the fire today. She 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 exactly what happened, but we are keeping an open mind." The property's front first floor bedroom window was destroyed and the bedroom was burnt out by the blaze, the Mirror's Jeremy Armstrong reports from the scene. The neighbour added: "Locals are saying that two wheelie bins were left at the front door and set alight. "That is the rumour locally, but obviously I do not know if that is true or not. Maybe someone was trying to scare them, or it was a prank that went wrong. It is hard to tell around here. "But I know the lads involved in the A66 incident with the police. I do not think that this couple knew any of them." PC Matt Blades and PC Tom Clough were killed when a Volkswagen Passat, traveling the wrong way down the A66 at South Bank, struck a Cleveland Police armed response vehicle heading in the opposite direction at 03:39 BST on Saturday. Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae and Cole Robert Worthy, both 17, died at the scene in the Passat. Eyewitnesses described the horrific scenes as the blaze took hold of the property at the centre of the murder investigation early today. Speaking to the Mirror's Jeremy Armstrong, one neighbour described a girl, believed to be around seven years old, being carried from the house in Grangetown, Middlesbrough shortly after 5am. He feared that the girl had tragically lost her life in the fire. She was believed to be the niece of the married couple living there. The couple, who are in their 30s, had been married for only a few months according to neighbours. One eyewitness, who did not want to be named, feared that the seven-year-old girl may have died from her injuries. He said: "I woke up at about 5am because of the noise of the fire engines. "I went out and saw the girl being carried out by a firefighter dressed in an orange uniform. "Her body was limp, and it looked to me like she was deceased and that it was too late to save her. "I think that she was staying there overnight, and the woman who lived there was her aunt. "They are an ordinary family; I do not believe they knew the gang of lads involved in the A66 crash. "The couple who live there have a daughter, and she and her friend jumped out of the window to escape the fire." As well as the two people who died and the woman fighting for her life, police said three people suffered non-life-threatening injuries and are receiving treatment in hospital following the house fire in Middlesbrough this morning. Cleveland Police have confirmed that a murder investigation has been launched following the house fire in Grangetown this morning. Two people were confirmed dead at the scene, which is yet to be fully examined, when officers arrived. A statement from Cleveland Police reads: "The families of those people have been informed, and our thoughts are with them and the families of everyone involved in this incident at this extremely difficult time." The force added that a woman is in critical condition at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI). Three other people are also in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A murder investigation has been launched after two people died in a house fire in Grangetown near Middlesbrough, Cleveland Police said. Grangetown Ward Labour councillor Adam Brook has described this morning's fire as absolutely devastating but urged people not to speculate about the incident. He said: "This morning's fire on Birchington Avenue is absolutely devastating, and my thoughts are first and foremost with everyone directly affected, their families and the wider Grangetown community. "Many residents have been in touch with me throughout the morning, and I know there is understandably a great deal of concern. "However, I would urge people not to speculate or share unconfirmed information. "There are local families at the heart of this incident, and they deserve the space, dignity and privacy to deal with what is an incredibly difficult situation." Mr Brook described Grangetown as a close-knit community and thanked the emergency services for their response to the fire. He added: "Until further information is officially confirmed by the relevant authorities, I don't feel it would be appropriate for me to comment further." Anna Turley, Labour MP for Redcar, has described the incident as "clearly a very difficult situation". She said: "A very serious incident is ongoing on Birchington Avenue in Grangetown this morning. "Cleveland Fire Brigade UK and other emergency services are at the scene, and road closures are in place. "Please avoid the area and give crews the space they need to respond safely. "My thoughts are with everyone affected, and with our emergency services dealing with what is clearly a very difficult situation. "Please take care and follow official updates."