9 family members killed in Russia arson

Russian authorities said they were investigating an arson fire that killed nine members of a family in Russia's Urals Perm region Friday. A spokesperson for the regional emergencies service said the fire in a flat in a four-story residential building in Mokhovoye was reported about 10:15 a.m. local time, RIA Novosti reported. As they were battling flames, firefighters found the bodies of the nine victims, authorities said. ITAR-Tass said the victims were a 34-year-old man, his wife and seven children ages 4-13 who died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Preliminary information said the family lived in a basement flat in the building. Investigative bodies of the Investigation Committee for the Perm Territory opened a criminal case under the Russian criminal code for the murder of two or more people, the Investigative Committee reported.