Detectives investigating a house fire in Leicester which killed four members of a family say there is no evidence they were involved in a death nearby.
A blaze in Wood Hill on Friday killed four people, named locally as Shehnila Taufiq, her daughter Zainab Taufiq, and sons Jamal and Bilal Taufiq.
Police said there was no evidence anyone in the house was involved in the death of a man in a street attack.
But they could not rule out a link between the two events.
'Close proximity'The man who died in the Kent Street assault is understood to be Antoin Akpom, a coach and former player at Leicester Nirvana FC.
Assistant Chief Constable for Leicestershire Police Roger Bannister said: "While we are investigating links between the two crimes there is absolutely no evidence to suggest those who died in the fire, or indeed anyone else who lives in that property, was involved in the assault in Kent Street.
"Because of the close proximity - in terms of time and location - of the two incidents, it is right that we look at whether there are links between the two crimes.
"However, at this stage in our investigations we have found nothing to suggest the residents of the house devastated by the fire had anything to do with the Kent Street incident."
Forensic experts continue to scour both scenes for clues and have carried out house to house enquiries in the area.
Mr Bannister said they believed there are people in the community who know more about what has happened.
'He was passionate'Detectives are continuing to link the fire, now a murder investigation, with the death of a man in his 20s.
He died in hospital after an attack in Kent Street, in the Highfields area of Leicester, at about 17:00 BST on Thursday, about a mile from the house.
Three people were arrested on Friday in connection with his death; a 19-year-old man in London and two women, both aged 19.
Zak Hajat, vice chairman at Leicester Nirvana FC, said Mr Akpom played for the club before later taking up coaching.
"He was someone who had a great relationship with the young people and he worked hard," he said.
"He was very dedicated in what he did. He was passionate that these boys have the opportunity to play football."
Mr Hajat said he had been ringing round parents at the club and the youngsters were upset at the news.
The club will hold a minute's silence at its home matches on Sunday.
Mistaken identityThe blaze in Wood Hill started shortly after midnight on Friday morning with neighbours describing hearing "popping" sounds and smelling burning plastic.
A man, who was woken by the sound of neighbours attempting to alert the family, said: "The heat of the fire was so intense it could be felt on the opposite pavement.
"The guy opposite broke the door down but the fire was so intense they couldn't get in.
"They were throwing bricks at the windows at the top of the house to alert them inside but I think it was too late."
Despite residents attempts to raise the alarm with the family all four were found by firefighters dead in upstairs bedrooms.
The children's father, Dr Muhammad Taufiq Al Sattar, worked as a neurosurgeon at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, and was due to return home on Friday.
Neighbours and friends of the family killed in the fire could not believe they would be a revenge target, putting it down to a case of mistaken identity.
The family was described as devout and hardworking and moved to the area about five years ago for the nearby religious schools and the mosque.
Special prayers will be held later at the nearby Jame Mosque for Jamal and Bilal with further prayers for their mother and sister on Sunday.
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