BY yesterday afternoon, the suspects who set a shack on fire in Otjomuise in a failed burglary attempt on Thursday, killing a seven-month-old baby, were still at large.

Detective Chief Inspector Barry de Klerk yesterday afternoon said the police investigation was continuing. “We are busy following up all the leads.”

The baby boy, Jaden //Naomab, burned to death in a shack after unknown suspects threw a burning object into the shack and fled.

It is suspected that the suspects had tried to break into the dwelling. When they did not succeed, they set the shack on fire.

The boy’s grandmother, Marie, was too emotional to speak when phoned yesterday afternoon.

De Klerk on Monday said the incident took place at about 02h15 on Thursday.

A 21-year-old woman and five children, including the seven-month-old baby, were in the shack at the corner of Beijing and Kitchener streets.

The woman told the police that she had heard people trying to break down the door, De Klerk said. After unsuccessfully trying to break into the shack, the suspects threw a burning object into the building and fled.

This set the shack on fire in an instant, the woman told the police.

She woke up the children and tried to get them out of the burning shack, but could not save the baby. By the time the fire brigade arrived, the baby had burned to death.