POLICE have made “significant progress” in their hunt for the killers of three children who died in a house fire.

Police investigating the murders have said they believe the fire, which started at 5am on Monday in Jackson Street, Walkden, was a targeted attack.

The victims have been named as 14-year-old Demi Pearson, eight-year-old Brandon Pearson and seven-year-old Lacie Pearson.

Their mother, Michelle Pearson, and three-year-old sister, are fighting for their lives in hospital.

Six people have been arrested in connection with the attack.

Five people have been arrested on suspicion of murder and a sixth on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Of these, two men aged 19 and 20, who were arrested on suspicion of murder and a 24-year-old man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, have been released on bail.

Two men, aged 25 and 23, and a 20-year-old woman remain in custody.

Flowers, soft toys and messages have been left at the scene.

St John the Baptist Church, in Algernon Road, opened its doors on Monday night and more than 200 people came in to grieve, light candles and write in a book of condolences.

Reverend Gill Page said: “The community is thoroughly shocked and devastated. It is tragic that this has happened on our doorstep in such circumstances.

“Some of the children were totally grief stricken standing in the doorway of the church. They were going to leave. I just said come in here with your grief.”

Demi attended Harrop Fold School and Brandon and Lacie are believed to have gone to Bridgewater Primary School.

It is thought the arsonist may have climbed up scaffolding outside the house to pour fuel down the chimney.

It has been reported that the family was “living under threat” before the fire.

Security measures were put in place at the house, including the fitting of a device to secure the letterbox.

The arrangements, known as target hardening, are generally used to strengthen a building to protect it in the event of the attack.

This afternoon, fire investigators were examining scaffolding outside the house.

Chief Superintendent Wayne Miller, territorial commander for Salford, said police now have a much deeper understanding of the events leading up to the deaths and ‘significant progress’ has been made in the investigation.

He said: “I cannot imagine what their family are going through. They are obviously completely devastated. The loss of a child in any circumstances is unthinkable; to lose three in such deplorable circumstances, words cannot describe. My heart breaks for them, it really does.

“Our specially trained family liaison officers are supporting the family and we are doing all that we can to get them the answers they quite rightly deserve.

“Finally, I would like to assure local people that we are doing everything in our power to get to the bottom of this and find those responsible for the murder of three innocent children and the attempted murder of their sister and their mother.”