Three men guilty of Leicester shop explosion
Three men were found guilty of murdering five people, in an explosion at a shop.
The blast destroyed a supermarket and the flat above where a family lived on Hinckley Road, Leicester, in February.
The men caused the explosion in order to make about £300,000 in an insurance scam, Leicester Crown Court heard.
The criminal investigation into the explosion was led by Detective Chief Inspector Michelle Keen.
She said: “The people responsible for carrying out this financially-motivated atrocity will now feel the full weight of justice.
“Their crimes have caused unspeakable grief to the families of those killed and injured, and brought utter chaos and devastation to the many residents and businesses of Leicester’s Hinckley Road.
“I praise the community which responded so bravely, sensitively, and calmly to the horror of that night.
“I praise all the emergency services, hospital staff, paramedics, city council, and voluntary and other community groups who helped respond to the tragedy with such fortitude, conviction and professionalism.
“I praise my investigation team, whose determination to bring those responsible to justice was unstinting.
“And my heart goes out to the families and friends of all those who died and were injured in the blast and subsequent fire that night. I hope that they can take some small solace from the outcome of these judicial proceedings.”
The ten-month police investigation unearthed a detailed and deliberate plot to set fire to the failing supermarket.
Published: by Radio NewsHub