Third man charged over fatal fire

Abdullah Mohammed died in the fire at his home in Blackburn

A third man has been charged in connection with an arson attack which left three children orphaned.

Sadek Miah, 23, from the Isle of Dogs, east London, has been charged with two counts of murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

Muslim cleric Abdullah Mohammed, 41, died in the fire at his home in Blackburn, Lancashire, on 21 October.

His wife, Ayesha, 39, died in hospital a week after the attack. Two children were hurt in the blaze.

The couple's daughter, Siddiqah, 14, remains in a stable condition in hospital while her nine-year-old brother Muhammad is being looked after by extended family after being released from hospital.

Another son, Ashraf, 18, a student at Bradford University, was away at the time of the incident.

Mr Miah is due to appear at Blackburn Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Two other men, Peter Bowden, 39, from Lytham St Annes and Imran Ali, 29, from Manchester, have previously been charged in connection with this incident.

Two men from London, aged 25 and 19, who were arrested in east London on 5 November on suspicion of murder, remain in police custody.

A 22-year-old man from London who was arrested in Forest Gate, east London, on suspicion of murder, has been released on bail pending further inquiries.