A MOTHER and her two young sons are fighting for their lives after an arson attack on their home in Leicester.
The woman, named locally as Shabina Khan, was rescued alongside her two sons by firefighters following the blaze at their terrace house in the Belgrave area of the city.
Detectives have now begun an attempted murder inquiry after confirming the blaze was started deliberately.
Forensic teams and specialist officers from the Fire Service have been conducting test at the scene since the blaze.
City firefighters rushed to the house in Sutton Avenue just after 2am on Monday after frantic calls from neighbours.
The nine-year-old boy was seriously injured after falling face-first from a first floor bedroom in a desperate attempt to escape from the flames.
His mother and six-year-old brother were rescued from the house by firefighters. The duo were unconscious and rushed to Leicester Royal Infirmary were they remain in a critical condition.
Detectives investigating the blaze confirmed it was a “deliberate case of arson” and were also looking into the possibility that a wheelie bin was set alight and wedged up against the front door.
Detective Superintendent Chris Thomas, who is leading the investigation, said: “It is now clear that we are not dealing with a horrible accident but a deliberate case of arson which has led to a mother and her two sons being very poorly in hospital.
“We’re keen to speak to anyone who may have been in the Gipsy Lane or Sutton Avenue area of Belgrave yesterday morning between 1am and 2pm.”
Anyone with any information is asked to call Det Insp Hurst on 0116 222 2222, keying in 1502 to leave a message, or call the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.
