Arson probe as woman dies in fire

Ms Pithie was married with two teenaged children

Police have launched a murder inquiry after an arson attack on a massage parlour in Harehills in Leeds.

A 32-year old woman, Samantha Pithie, died in the attack. She was married with two children.

She was rescued from an attic bedroom at the Spartan massage parlour early on Friday but died later. The blaze was spotted by a passing police car.

Police said Ms Pithie, who had two teenaged children, had only worked at the premises for the past month.

Detective Superintendent Bill Shackleton said whoever killed her had forced the door and started a fire on the stairs.

He said he was investigating if the arson was linked to other attacks on the premises in the past, and added that the parlour had been in existence for 30 years.

Detectives are carrying out forensic tests at the scene and examining CCTV footage of the surrounding area.

A post-mortem examination was carried out on Friday.