Man held after four found shot dead

Four people were found shot dead at a house in England today after a man walked into a police station apparently armed with a nail bomb.

The victims, believed to be from the same family and related to the suspect, had been shot at close range at the house in Benwell Grove in Newcastle upon Tyne this morning.

The dead are a man and woman in their 70s and two men in their 40s.

Northumbria Police said the suspect had a history of mental illness and “may be ex-military”.

The man walked into Westgate Police Station, about half a mile from the house, and alleged that his bag contained a home-made nail bomb, police said.

A small controlled explosion was later carried out on the bag which contained what appeared to have been a handgun with a silencer, a pump-action shotgun and a quantity of ammunition.

Police said that they were investigating the man’s background and understood that he “may be ex-military”.

The four bodies remain at the house where a bomb disposal team has been at work ensuring that the property is safe.

The bodies may not be removed for a post-mortem examination for up to 24 hours, police indicated.