Fourteen children arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after industrial fire in Gateshead
3 May 2025, 19:22 | Updated: 4 May 2025, 08:46
Fourteen children aged between 11 and 14 years old have been arrested after a boy died in a fire at an industrial site.
Northumbria Police said the group - 11 boys and three girls - were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the incident in Gateshead on Friday. They remain in police custody.
Officers were called to reports of a fire near Fairfield industrial park in the Bill Quay area shortly after 8pm.
Emergency services attended, and the fire was extinguished a short time later.
Police then issued an appeal for a missing boy, Layton Carr, who was believed to be in the area at the time of the fire.
In a statement, the force said that "sadly, following searches, a body believed to be that of 14-year-old Layton Carr was located deceased inside the building".
Layton's next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, police added.
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Detective Chief Inspector Louise Jenkins, of Northumbria Police, also said: "This is an extremely tragic incident where a boy has sadly lost his life."
She added that the force's "thoughts are with Layton's family as they begin to attempt to process the loss of their loved one".
They are working to establish "the full circumstances surrounding the incident" and officers will be in the area to "offer reassurance to the public", she added.
A cordon remains in place at the site while police carry out enquiries.
(c) Sky News 2025: Fourteen children arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after industrial fire in Gateshead
