Man burnt to death in arson attack on residential street as cops launch murder investigation

POLICE have launched a murder investigation after a man was burnt to death in an arson attack on a residential street.

A man has been arrested in wake of the horror house fire in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, on Sunday.

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The devastating fire tore through the home in Dewsbury, causing it to collapse[/caption]

Fire crews recovered the body of a man from the home on Monday after the blaze tore through the property, causing it to collapse.

The victim suffered unsurvivable injuries after the devastating fire that began just after 12am on Sunday, West Yorkshire Police said.

Cops are working to inform his next of kin, who are not UK-based.

Another five people in the house survived the inferno, with one man rushed to hospital after suffering serious injuries.

A number of other properties on Queen Street were also evacuated as the flames spread to nearby properties.

Neighbour Azeem Ashraf, 35, told Yorkshire Live how he was forced to jump out of a top floor window to escape the roaring flames.

He explained he had woken up in the middle of the night when he noticed smoke billowing under his door and felt “a lot of heat”.

The 35-year-old woke up another resident before they both had to shimmy down a drainpipe to get to safety.

He said of his ordeal: “I’ve been through a lot in my life and you know what, I’m lucky I’m alive.

“I’m crying on the inside but I’m smiling on the outside.”

The force have now launched a murder investigation after the terrifying arson attack.

A man was arrested on Tuesday afternoon and remains in police custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Sharron Kaye of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “Following the recovery of a body from the house on Monday this has now been confirmed as a murder investigation, and police are progressing a number of lines of enquiry today.

“This fire has clearly had devastating consequences and resulted in the death of a man who tragically suffered injuries in the fire and building collapse from which there was no chance of survival.

“We are working to make contact with his next of kin who are not UK based.

“I continue to appeal to anyone who has information in the community to come forwards to help us.

“This fire could conceivably have resulted in multiple deaths and it is vital we apprehend those responsible as quickly as possible.”