BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Former prime minister Owen Arthur is calling for stiff penalties for persons responsible in the deadly fire at a clothing store over the weekend.

Six persons were killed when robbers set the Campus Trendz Clothing Store ablaze in full view of shocked customers after taking an undisclosed amount of cash.

Arthur, addressing the annual general meeting of a Christ Church branch of the main opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) called also for a National Day of Mourning in honour of those who perished in the blaze.

“When somebody could throw a cocktail in a building where other Barbadians are, we have to call it what it is,  modern terrorism and they must face the full measure and full weight (of the law),” he told party supporters.

Police Commissioner Police Commissioner Darwin Dottin told reporters that investigators were examining whether there are any similarities between the tragedy and a previous incident where a botched robbery also ended with the business being set on fire.

He said that investigators were pursing some leads and he would be addressing the nation on today.

The authorities had earlier said that they believed those who were killed had gone to the back of the building to escape the inferno.