Police in New Zealand are treating the deadly hostel fire that killed at least six people at Wellington's Loafers Lodge as arson, launching a homicide investigation into the blaze. 9News
as arson, launching a homicide investigation into the blaze.
He also confirmed police have a list of people they want to speak to in relation to the fire, but didn't say who they were.Police are investigating whether there are any links between a couch fire lit at the Loafers Lodge hostel and the suspicious blaze two hours later that killed at least six people.
A small reconnaissance team of police officers has entered Loafers Lodge after the fire tore through it in the early hours of Tuesday morning, but a more extensive search of the building isn't expected to start until tomorrow.Bennett's comments came after he had confirmed earlier on Wednesday that there had been a couch fire at Loafers Lodge about two hours before the separate, deadly blaze, and that police are investigating any link between the two.
"This scene examination will be an extensive and methodical process, and we expect it to take some time – likely several days," he said.
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