Arrests made over Newquay hotel fire

Police have arrested two men in connection with the hotel fire in Newquay, Cornwall, last summer in which three people died.

The arrests follow a police news conference earlier in the week in which it was announced that the fire at the Penhallow Hotel was now being treated as arson and that a murder inquiry had been launched.

At the time Detective Chief Superintendent Chris Boarland told reporters that anyone with suspicions about who may have started the fire should come forward.

"Somebody else may have knowledge of this, even if they were not involved. We need them to come forward."

Police have now said that two men, one aged 44 and the other aged 21 are being questioned at separate police stations in the area on suspicion of murder.

No further details were given.

Eighty residents were evacuated safely from the hotel but Joan Harper, 80, Peter Hughes, 43, and his mother Monica, 86, all died.

Mr Hughes was forced to jump from a third floor window after trying to save Mrs Hughes.

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By Andrew Smith

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