New arrest after fatal flat fire

Colin Salt died a few weeks after an explosion at a newsagents

A 39-year-old Turkish Cypriot has been arrested in Northern Cyprus in connection with the death of a man in Staffordshire nearly five years ago.

Colin Salt received extensive burn injuries in an explosion at a flat above a Stoke-on-Trent shop in Chell Heath Road, Bradeley, in December 2000.

The arrest of the man was made by officers from the Turkish Cypriot Police who will interview him.

Staffordshire Police detectives will travel to Cyprus this week to assist.

Mr Salt died as a result of injuries from the fire in January 2001.

No extradition treaty

The man will be interviewed in Northern Cyprus after which a decision will be taken as to how to proceed with the investigation.

There is currently no extradition treaty between the UK and Northern Cyprus.

The Staffordshire force said it had continued to investigate the death of Mr Salt since shop owners, Cinar and Sibel Kemelzade were convicted of his manslaughter and jailed for 11 years.

They also faced plus fraud and arson charges, and were given concurrent eight year sentences, at Stafford Crown Court in March 2004.

Following the case, Det Insp Roger Dutton, who led the inquiry, said he was still seeking to bring another person to court from Northern Cyprus in relation to Mr Salt's death.