Bradford house fire: Two men charged with murdering a mother and her three children

West Yorkshire Police was called at 2.07am, on Wednesday (Aug 21), by the fire service to reports of a house fire at a property on Westbury Road, in Bradford.

Neighbours on Westbury Road, Bradford, reported hearing "screams" coming from the home after around five fire engines and a dozen ambulances arrived just after 2am.

Others saw smoke "billowing out of the house" and smelled "burned rubber" as the property went up in flames.

Mohammed Shabir, aged 44, of Alice Street , Keighley; and Calum Sunderland, aged 25, of Calton Street, Keighley; have both been charged with four counts of murder and one count of attempt murder.  

The two men have been remanded in custody to appear at Bradford Magistrates Court on Wednesday (Aug 28).

Bryonie Gawith aged 29, and her three children – Denisty Birtle, nine, Oscar Birtle, five, and 22-month-old, Aubree Birtle – died after their home on Westbury Road, Bradford, was deliberately set alight in the early hours of Wednesday (Aug 21).  

Four other people remain under investigation.  

A 39-year-old man arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder remains in hospital in a critical condition.  

A 36-year-old man arrested on Friday (Aug 23) on suspicion of murder and attempt murder has been interviewed and released on conditional bail.  

A 54-year-old woman and 42-year-old man arrested on Monday (Aug 26) on suspicion of assisting an offender have been interviewed and released on bail.