Further arson arrest made over shop explosion in Leicester

A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an explosion at a supermarket in Leicester which killed five people.

The blast destroyed a Polish shop and two-storey flat on February 25 on Hinckley Road in the city.

The man, from north-west England, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson on Wednesday, Leicestershire Police said.

Leicester explosion
Leicester explosion

Arkan Ali, 37, Hawkar Hassan, 32, and Aram Kurd, 33, denied manslaughter charges and separate counts of arson being reckless as to endanger life and fraud by false representation at a court hearing in April.

Mary Ragoobeer, 46, her sons Shane, 18, and Sean, 17, Leah Beth Reek, 18, who was Shane's girlfriend, and Viktorija Ljevleva, 22, were all killed in the incident which also saw a number of others injured.

Leicester explosion
Leicester explosion

Ali, of Drake Close, Oldham, Hassan, of no fixed abode, and Kurd, of Hillary Place, Leicester, are set to appear at Leicester Crown Court on August 31.

The force said the latest suspect remains in police custody.

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