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ITN
Police search arson house
Police search arson house
Police have entered the fire-ravaged Shropshire home of a missing millionaire and his family for the first time. The home of Christopher Foster, his wife Jill and 15-year-old daughter Kirstie was set alight shortly before 5am on Tuesday in a suspected arson attack. Fire crews took several hours to control the blaze and the family has been missing since. Investigators have been struggling to get inside Osbaston House in Maesbrook, near Oswestry, Shropshire, as it was badly damaged. Supt Gary Higgins said earlier: "Scenes of crime officers have already carried out examinations at the various outhouses. "This is being treated as arson and, until we can determine whether the family was inside, it will remain arson." West Mercia Police have refused to comment on rumours that bullet cartridges and pools of blood have been found at the estimated £1.2 million house or confirm reports which suggested Mr Foster may have shot dead his family before boarding himself in the house and setting fire to it. A police spokesman said: "There is a lot of speculation going on. When we are able to we will issue facts. We are not able to go into the building so we do not know what, if anything, is inside." Mr Foster was at the centre of a blackmail trial after two men accused of blackmailing the 50-year-old businessman were cleared by a jury in November 2006. Kirstie Foster is a year ten pupil at Ellesmere College, an independent school in Ellesmere, Shropshire. Headteacher Brendan Wignall said: "Kirstie is a charming, popular and hard working girl with many friends, all of whom are hoping she will be found safe and well."
ITN | August 29, 2008
