Zimbabwean national has died following a late-night fire at a hotel in Cambridgeshire, with emerging details pointing to a troubling chain of events involving a fellow resident and possible safeguarding failures.
Emergency services were called to a blaze at Zaheer’s Hotel along Station Road in Odsey, near Steeple Morden, at approximately 9:30pm on Sunday. Fire crews battled the inferno for hours before bringing it under control. One man was pronounced dead at the scene, while another individual was taken to hospital.
Zimbabweinvestment forumPolice have since confirmed that a 44-year-old man from Hertfordshire has been arrested on suspicion of arson endangering life and remains in custody as investigations continue.
Onlinenews subscription
However, information now coming through from sources familiar with the situation suggests a far more complex and disturbing background to the incident.
The deceased Zimbabwean man had reportedly been staying at the hotel with his wife, renting a room on a temporary basis. During their stay, they are said to have formed a relationship with another resident — a certain white British male who had been placed at the hotel under a council housing arrangement.
Concerns are now being raised over whether appropriate risk assessments were conducted prior to placing vulnerable individuals in shared accommodation.
Sources indicate that the relationship between the two men had become volatile over time, described as a “love-hate” dynamic marked by tension and unpredictability. On the day of the incident, it is alleged that alcohol consumption played a role, with the council-placed resident reportedly drinking before returning to the hotel
