Peterborough house fire 'murder' as police find dead body and accelerant

Police have launched a murder investigation after a man's body was discovered inside a property that was set alight.

Cambridgeshire Police said officers discovered the body of Zbigniew Wasiak, 59, inside a property on Wootton Avenue, Fletton, Peterborough, at about 3.35am on Sunday following a house fire.

The service said police were called by the fire service to the address following a call from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue.

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A joint investigation by police and the fire service determined an accelerant was used by a third party to start the fire, but it is yet to be confirmed how Mr Wasiak died.

A post-mortem examination is due to take place on Wednesday. Detective Inspector Dale Mepstead, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said in a statement that the investigation into the incident is in "the early stages", adding it is yet to be established why the fire was started.

The detective added that police are appealing for help from the general public, specifically from people who live in the area where the fire took place.

He said: “We are still in the early stages of our investigation and part of the initial enquiries will be to establish why the fire was started at his home.

"We are appealing for anyone with information to come forward, particularly if you live in the area of Wootton Avenue and recall seeing or hearing anything suspicious around the time of the incident.

“I understand this is likely to be concerning to the local community, but we believe it to be an isolated incident, and we have extra patrols in the area.”

Police have asked anyone who believes they have information relevant to the investigation, doorbell or dashcam footage to call the non-emergency number 101 or submit a report online via the service's reporting tool.

Those who submit reports online will need to quote Operation Landform.

People can also visit Cambridgeshire Constabulary's Major Incident Public Portal here or submit an anonymous report via the Crimestoppers charity at 0800 555 111 or via its in-house online reporting tool.