Two men have today been arrested on suspicion of murdering three people in the fire at the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay.
The news follows the announcement yesterday by detectives that they were treating the fire on 18 August – in which three people died and 80 escaped – as having been started deliberately.
Police said it was the most serious hotel fire in the country for 30 years and that the investigation was a huge undertaking.
Detective Chief Supt Chris Boarland said that police had spoken to 90 witnesses and had obtained more than 650 statements in the course of the investigation so far. “Those three deaths are tragic enough but anyone who saw the photographs of the fire and its ferocity will agree that it is an absolute miracle that there weren’t more deaths.”
He appealed to people to come forward with any information they had – however unimportant it may seem – and contact the police on 08452 777 444 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.
