A family-run business has been destroyed by arsonists who started a blaze after breaking in through the roof.
Detectives were today continuing to investigate the fire at the Halal Meat Centre, also known as Medina Stores, in Girlington Road, Girlington, Bradford.
Firefighters were called to the scene at 7.19am today by a member of the public. They found smoke pouring from the shuttered shop front.
Detective Inspector Noel Devine, of Bradford North CID, said the blaze must have started after 5.30am as there had been no sign of a fire when people were walking to a nearby mosque at that time.
"It has a really narrow time frame," he said.
Police were trying to determine how the raiders had gained access through the skylight, and said they could have climbed up a drain pipe or gone across from another rooftop.
"How they got up there is what we are looking into," he said.
"Obviously it's been done from the back of the premises rather than the front. There is a lot of houses that overlook there, somebody might have seen something that could be quite important to us."
Sweets and drinks from the shop were scattered around the narrow lane at the back of the building.
Shop owner Mahmood Hussain, who has run the business for five years, said he was called to the premises by firefighters.
"They asked me to bring a key because they had a fire in the shop," he said.
He said when he saw the back of the building he realised someone must have broken in through the roof.
"I told the police somebody must have gone through a skylight," he said.
He said he was shocked and upset by what had happened.
Fairweather Green watch manager Michael Smith said on forcing their way into the premises, crews had found the fire raging.
"There was quite a lot of damage to the downstairs of the building. Other rooms were damaged with smoke and fire," he said.
Detectives are working alongside fire investigation officers to determine how the blaze began.
Crews fought the fire until about 9am, when they started damping down the wreckage.
Police cordons prevented traffic from entering Girlington Road and also stopped people from entering the lane behind the shop.
Neighbours and residents gathered on Girlington Road to watch the emergency services at work.
Det Insp Devine said at the time of the break-in there would have been people walking to and from the mosque and also people getting up and going out.
He urged anyone with information to call police on (01274) 376259.
e-mail: rebecca.wright@bradford.newsquest.co.uk
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