Arson suspect 'left suicide note'

Survivors take part in a memorial service

Australian police are investigating what could be an intended suicide note left in a bar by the key suspect in the fatal backpackers' hostel fire.

Acting Chief Superintendent Ken Benjamin of the Queensland force said the letter may have been written by Robert Long, the man they are hunting in connection with Friday's blaze.

The hostel building remains unstable

Mr Long is thought still to be at large and his parents have made an emotional plea to their son to contact the police.

Pub landlord Chris Woods said Mr Long had left the suicide note at his bar in Childers on 13 June.

"Clearly, in that note he intended doing some damage to himself.

"He said that he was sorry for any hurt he might cause people as a result of the actions that he was going to take," the landlord told ABC Radio.

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Police have issued a partial list of the 15 people who died in the fire, at the Palace Backpackers Hostel in the farming town of Childers.

Five of the Britons who died were Natalie Morris and Sarah Williams of Aberfan, Wales, Gary Sutton and Michael Lewis of Bristol, and Melissa Smith.

Police also named 22-year-old twins Stacey and Kelly Starke, from Western Australia, Atsushi Toyono of Naruto City, Japan, Julie O'Keefe of Limerick, Ireland, and Dutchmen Joly van der Velden and Sebastien Westerfield.

Robert Long: Police want to question him

Two other Australian victims, a Korean and a Briton have yet to be identified.

British backpacker Nicola Morgan was initially named among the dead, but she approached police on Monday to say she was alive, officials said.

Several witnesses said they saw Mr Long in the vicinity before the blaze.

Supt Ken Benjamin said the purported suicide note had yet to be verified as being from Mr Long.

"I have a note but we have not had the handwriting verified at the present time, so I'm not at liberty to discuss it," he added.

Mourning

Details of the letter emerged as Queensland held an official day of mourning. Flags were flown at half mast across the state.

Investigators continued to search for evidence at the hostel on Monday, as the emergency services tried to retrieve the last of the charred bodies from the burnt-out shell.

Police said most of the dead were found huddled in one room in the back top floor of the hostel.

I hope to God it wasn't him

Richard Long's father Syd

Queensland coroner Michael Halliday opened the inquest in Brisbane on Monday.

But he immediately adjourned it, saying some of the bodies were so badly burnt that DNA testing may be required to identify them.

Drifter

Seventy people survived the fire. Many said Mr Long had made threats against the owners of the hostel and was there on the night of the blaze.

Witnesses described the 37-year-old itinerant fruit-picker as a heavy-drinking loner with a long criminal record.

Backpacking in Australia

More than 404,000 backpackers visit each year

Average stay is 66 days

Backpacking generates A$1.72bn a year for the country

Reports said he bore a grudge against the hostel where he had lived for weeks before being thrown out for not paying for his lodgings.

In an emotional appeal, Mr Long's father Syd pleaded with his son to get in contact.

"Robert, your mother and I are ready to listen and talk with you at any time. We are ready to help you work through the events of the last week," he said at a news conference.

"We need to hear you are safe and well. Let us help - please call now and talk to us or contact the police so they can arrange for us to speak."