A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after two more residents have died following an arson attack on a hospice.
Emergency services were called to the blaze at St Michael's Hospice in St Leonards, East Sussex, in the early hours of yesterday.
A woman aged 62 and an 81-year-old man who were being treated for smoke inhalation at the Conquest Hospital, Hastings, following the fire, have since died.
Another woman resident, aged 78, also died on Saturday following the fire. Sussex police have said It is not clear whether her death is linked to the fire and an investigation is being carried out.
A 67-year-old St Leonards man, who is known to the hospice, was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. He has now been further arrested on two counts of murder.
Fire, ambulance and police all declared the fire a major incident and 23 residents and nine staff were all evacuated.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Preston said: "This is an extremely difficult time for the residents and staff of St Michael's Hospice and for the families of the residents who have sadly passed away.
"We are now treating this as murder and a 67-year-old man arrested on suspicion of arson has now been further arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder."