Four people who were arrested yesterday in connection with the blaze that killed four firefighters at a Wealmoor packhouse in 2007 have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
The three men and one woman, reported to be from Poland and aged between 25 and 27, were arrested in Handsworth, Smethwick and Evesham on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
They have been bailed to return to a Warwickshire police station in July.
The fire that ripped through the Atherstone on Stour vegetable packhouse in November 2007 killed firefighters Ian Reid, John Averis, Darren Yates-Bradley and Ashley Stephens.
The warehouse, formerly owned by liquidated firm Bomfords, had been bought in July 2007 by Wealmoor and renamed Wealmoor Atherstone.
Detective superintendent Ken Lawrence, who is leading the investigation into the fire and subsequent events, said: “This is a very complex investigation and these arrests are part of that process. We are gathering information from every possible source in order to establish the facts of this case and will continue to work tirelessly to achieve this.
“The joint police/Health & Safety Executive investigation is ongoing, we are still interviewing people and gathering new information and will be for some time to come.
“To date we have taken 2,439 statements from 866 people, gathered 3,940 other documents, collated records of 1,962 people, recovered 3,885 exhibits, recorded 1,100 events and carried out 2,700 actions with more pending.
“We have always said this would take a long time and the scale of these figures should go some way to explaining the magnitude of the task we are undertaking.
“I am still keen to hear from anyone who may have information about the events of or leading up to the fatal fire on November 2, 2007 and has not yet come forward.
“We are committed to investigating the fire and the tragic deaths of the four firefighters as thoroughly as we possibly can so that we can tell the families how and why their loved ones died.
“The families have been very supportive of the investigation but it is understandably difficult for them, especially as time goes on."
Leena Malde, director at Wealmoor, said: “This is an ongoing police and health and safety investigation and therefore it would be inappropriate for us to comment. Wealmoor continues to support the investigation and is fully co-operating with the authorities.”
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