UK: Father held on suspicion of murdering his young children

A father in England has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his son and daughter, who died after being found unconscious in a flat.

The man, aged 37, was detained after the victims, a boy aged two and a girl aged four, were found unconscious at about 8am today in Manchester. It is believed they had been strangled.

The children were taken to hospital but pronounced dead a short time later, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.

The housing association flat is in a three-storey block on leafy Whalley Road, Whalley Range, two miles south of the city centre.

A police officer stood guard outside while forensic investigators in white body suits appeared to be looking for evidence around the entrance to the flats.

Neighbour Michael Chubb, who lives in an adjacent block of flats, said: “This road has had a few problems, and in those flats too, so I’m not terribly surprised to find police cars outside.

“There’s been problems with people setting fire to flats, some deliberately, some accidentally.”

Another neighbour, Ben Draper, 32, a tree surgeon, said: “To hear what has happened is very shocking. I turned up at around 10am and there was loads of cops. It’s not often you see many police cars round here.”

A GMP spokesman said: “Police have launched a murder inquiry following the death of two young children.

“Shortly after 8am police were called to a house on Whalley Road in Whalley Range.

“Officers found two children, a two-year-old boy and four-year-old girl, unconscious. The two children were taken to hospital but pronounced dead a short time later.

“A 37-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Inquiries are ongoing.”