Grandfather dies in arson attack

12 April 2012

An elderly Asian grandfather collapsed and died in the street after his daughter's home was torched in a racially motivated arson attack.

Bangladeshi couple Abul Kalam Azad and Syeda Sahnaz Begum and their five children aged between two and 21 escaped the blazing terraced house but Syeda's father, who lived in the next street, collapsed from a suspected heart attack on Friday after rushing to the scene when told about the fire.

Mr Azad, 46, broke down in tears while talking about the incident that claimed the life of his father-in-law and almost claimed the lives of his family.

The blaze started around 3.30am at the family's home in Northcote Avenue, Sunderland, with four of their children having to escape through an upstairs window.

Mr Azad and wife Syeda, in her 40s, escaped through the back of the house with their two-year-old son while three others sons, aged 14, 18 and 21 and their 17-year-old daughter escaped from the blazing house through rear windows and a first-floor bedroom window.

Four of the children are still in hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and broken limbs suffered while jumping from the first floor window.

The property was destroyed in the blaze and forensic tests are now being carried out.

Mr Azad told the Press Association: "My children were shouting and crying until they managed to get out. When I saw my children jumping from the upstairs window the feeling in my heart was that they were going to die.

"My father-in-law collapsed and died because of this incident and I have no idea why anyone would want to do this. We are peaceful people living in Sunderland."

Community leaders spoke of their shock at the death of the pensioner, who they named as Syed Sorafot Ali, from neighbouring Churchill Street.

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