General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister and Head of Dubai Police and Public Security, yesterday ordered the formation of a special committee to investigate a blaze at a detention cell in Bur Dubai Police Station in which 14 prisoners died and 15 others, including three policemen, were injured.

Until late last night none of the prisoners was identified. Police said the victims included nine UAE nationals, two Afghans, one Iranian and two who did not have valid papers.

Police claimed the fire was started deliberately by a group of prisoners under investigation for alleged drugs charges to create a diversion for them to escape from the cell. The fire started at 11.15pm on Monday night and raged until 3am yesterday.

Sheikh Mohammed along with Ibrahim Bu Melha, Dubai Attorney General, Brig. Sharafuddin Al Sayed, Assistant Commander in Chief, Criminal Investigation Affairs, and Lt. Col. Dr Jamal Mohammed Khalifa Al Marri, Dubai Police Station Director, visited Bur Dubai Police Station.

Sheikh Mohammed then ordered that a five-member committee headed by Lt. Col. Dr Al Marri be formed. He asked to be informed on the progress of the investigation.

Bu Melha said: "After investigating the incident, we will submit a report to Sheikh Mohammed and let him know financial damages.

"We will announce our findings once the investigation is complete. We do not want to jump to conclusions until we have a clear picture. Dubai Prosecution has already started investigations.

"The authorities will do their best to reveal the truth. And, we will find out whether there was carelessness by our officials."

He, however, claimed initial investigations revealed four alleged drug addicts set fire to a foam mattress.

Bu Melha stressed the importance of taking precautions to avoid incidents such as this in future, saying that what had happened was near a disaster. "It's not a normal accident, it's a near disaster."

He sympathised with families who have lost their loved ones and said bodies will soon be handed over for burial.

"We thank Sheikh Mohammed for his personal concern, that he came in person to check and asked to be informed immediately."

Dubai Police Chief Maj. Gen. Dhahi Khalfan Tamim was present during the evacuation operation. Prisoners who were not injured were taken to Dubai Central Jail as a temporary measure.

Maj. Gen. Dhahi praised Dubai Civil Defence firefighters who arrived quickly and doused the blaze. Dubai Police offered their condolences to families of the victims.