A day after launching a murder inquiry, police have made a renewed appeal for people who were near the scene of a fatal fire to come forward.
A man, believed to be 61 year-old builder Terry Losh, died in the blaze, at number 19, Demesne Road, Douglas in the early hours of last Sunday morning.
Police have arrested a 34 year-old Douglas man on suspicion of murder, and arson with intent to endanger life, in connection with that fire and three other blazes started in the area in the previous 16 hours.
Results of forensic tests suggest all four fires were started deliberately.
Deputy Chief Constable Gary Roberts says the public have an important role to play in the investigation.
"The public are very important in this. People should give us every little piece of information they have.
"Don't hold back, if you think you've got something don't make a decision that it won't be important to us. Everything you have is important, so contact us.
"This investigation is incredibly complex, but being handled in a very professional and thorough manner.
"I'm absolutely certain we'll bring to justice the people who have carried out this offence."
Police are trying to trace anyone who was in the area of Demesne Road in the hours leading to the blaze, early last Sunday morning. In particular:
A man and a woman who walked past 19 Demesne Road shortly after 4am.
The man is described as being around six foot, two tall, of stocky build and wearing a white baseball cap and a coat which was mainly blue with a white 'V' on the neck. The woman had long, dark hair, was around five foot, seven and wore dark coloured jeans.
Two people who walked past Road and Track in Tynwald Street in the direction of Westmoreland Road at 2.55am. They were wearing predominantly dark clothing with one of them possibly wearing a light coloured hat or hood.
They would also like to hear from a man who was wearing a tuxedo in the Kensington Road/Bucks Road area during the early hours of Sunday morning and a man and woman who helped extinguish a fire at the rear of Bucks Road last Saturday afternoon.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police headquarters on 631212 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line, 0800 555111.
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