Three children have died and a fourth child is in a critical condition after a house fire in Salford.
A 14-year-old girl, named as schoolgirl Demi Pearson, was declared dead at the scene.
An 8-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl subsequently died in hospital.
A three-year-old girl and the 35-year-old mother of all three children are in critical condition in hospital.
The blaze broke out at the terraced house on Jackson Street in the Worsley area at around 5am.
The fire is being treated as suspicious and a murder inquiry has been launched.
Police are believed to be investigating if a flammable liquid was poured through the letterbox.
A Manchester Fire spokesman told the Manchester Evening News: “We were called at 4.58am to a fire at a mid-terrace house on Jackson Street.
“Four crews attended. They used six breathing apparatus, three hose reels and a ventilation fan to put out the fire.”
Two 16-year-old boys rescued themselves from the fire, one of which is believed to be a family member.
Police said they had been in recent contact with the family and had visited the house before the fire broke out.
