‘Family annihilators’ often unknown to authorities

A majority of fathers who wipe out their families are not previously known to the police or mental health or drug services, according to a study.

The men are typically employed and have been successful, but reportedly cannot deal with “the changing nature of men in society”.

The study, thought to be the first into the phenomenon of “family annihilation”, was conducted at Birmingham City University and is due to be published this week.