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| Gassed father planted hoax bomb | Gassed father planted hoax bomb |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A man who gassed himself and his two children planted a hoax bomb at the family home and reportedly told his wife: "I've left you a present." | A man who gassed himself and his two children planted a hoax bomb at the family home and reportedly told his wife: "I've left you a present." |
| Brian Philcox, 52, was going through a break-up with his wife when he drove to the Conwy valley to kill himself, seven-year-old Amy and Owen, three. | Brian Philcox, 52, was going through a break-up with his wife when he drove to the Conwy valley to kill himself, seven-year-old Amy and Owen, three. |
| After picking up the children, there were reports that he told his wife: "I'll make the papers, just you watch." | After picking up the children, there were reports that he told his wife: "I'll make the papers, just you watch." |
| A hoax bomb was later found at the family home in Runcorn, Cheshire. | A hoax bomb was later found at the family home in Runcorn, Cheshire. |
| Residents were evacuated on Saturday night and an army bomb squad called in. | Residents were evacuated on Saturday night and an army bomb squad called in. |
| Supt Jed Manley, of Cheshire Police, said: "It [the hoax bomb] was made to give the appearance of being an explosive device. It has wires. It had other issues that the officer believed, quite rightly, that caution was needed and it looked like an improvised explosive device." | Supt Jed Manley, of Cheshire Police, said: "It [the hoax bomb] was made to give the appearance of being an explosive device. It has wires. It had other issues that the officer believed, quite rightly, that caution was needed and it looked like an improvised explosive device." |
| A second suspect package was sent to a "family member" police said, and this too was removed by explosives experts. | A second suspect package was sent to a "family member" police said, and this too was removed by explosives experts. |
| Remote, quiet spot hit by tragedyTributes to children found dead | |
| It also emerged that karate expert Mr Philcox had been in contact with Fathers 4 Justice and may have tried calling them in the days running up to the tragedy. | It also emerged that karate expert Mr Philcox had been in contact with Fathers 4 Justice and may have tried calling them in the days running up to the tragedy. |
| Mr Philcox and his children were found in his Land Rover Freelander near Llanrwst on Sunday - Father's Day. | Mr Philcox and his children were found in his Land Rover Freelander near Llanrwst on Sunday - Father's Day. |
| They died from carbon monoxide poisoning through inhaling exhaust fumes. | They died from carbon monoxide poisoning through inhaling exhaust fumes. |
| Det Ch Insp Wayne Jones from North Wales Police said there were no other injuries on the children. | Det Ch Insp Wayne Jones from North Wales Police said there were no other injuries on the children. |
| Police described the children's mother Evelyn - known locally as Lyn - as "devastated". She was being comforted by family and friends. | Police described the children's mother Evelyn - known locally as Lyn - as "devastated". She was being comforted by family and friends. |
| Outside the family home, a single-storey, bungalow-type terrace on the Windmill Hill estate, teddy bears and flowers were tied to railings. | Outside the family home, a single-storey, bungalow-type terrace on the Windmill Hill estate, teddy bears and flowers were tied to railings. |
| Shocked locals hugged each other as they talked on doorsteps, watching as police forensics teams wearing blue gloves came in and out of the house. | Shocked locals hugged each other as they talked on doorsteps, watching as police forensics teams wearing blue gloves came in and out of the house. |
| One card tied to the railings had a child's drawing, of Lyn, Amy and Owen. | One card tied to the railings had a child's drawing, of Lyn, Amy and Owen. |
| Tied to flowers, one card said: "Good night little angels." | Tied to flowers, one card said: "Good night little angels." |
| The bodies of Brian Philcox and his children Amy and Owen were found in a Land Rover | |
| Another card read: "No words can express the sympathy or the pain of loss of your little angels. | Another card read: "No words can express the sympathy or the pain of loss of your little angels. |
| "Their little smiles will shine forever." | "Their little smiles will shine forever." |
| A friend of Mr Philcox, Paul Clifton, said he had been very upset by the turmoil of divorce. | A friend of Mr Philcox, Paul Clifton, said he had been very upset by the turmoil of divorce. |
| "He was very, very upset by the situation to do with the courts and the access to the children, because he's going through a lot of turmoil with the divorce," he said. | "He was very, very upset by the situation to do with the courts and the access to the children, because he's going through a lot of turmoil with the divorce," he said. |
| "But he loved his children. It's very hard to believe he's done this." | "But he loved his children. It's very hard to believe he's done this." |
| One of Mr Philcox's neighbours said he had threatened violence. | One of Mr Philcox's neighbours said he had threatened violence. |
| He loved his children... it's very hard to believe he's done this Paul Clifton, friend | |
| "Last week he was actually bragging, when I walked past, he was actually saying, 'I'll burn the house before I give it... up or the kids to her'," the neighbour said. | "Last week he was actually bragging, when I walked past, he was actually saying, 'I'll burn the house before I give it... up or the kids to her'," the neighbour said. |
| Mr Philcox, originally from the Speke area of Liverpool, had been practising karate for more than 30 years, reaching sixth dan black belt and winning many competitions. | Mr Philcox, originally from the Speke area of Liverpool, had been practising karate for more than 30 years, reaching sixth dan black belt and winning many competitions. |
| He also held various senior positions within martial arts organisations in the UK. | He also held various senior positions within martial arts organisations in the UK. |
| He was named Man of the Year in 2005 in awards for local citizens in Runcorn in recognition for his charity work following the death of his first wife Jan. | He was named Man of the Year in 2005 in awards for local citizens in Runcorn in recognition for his charity work following the death of his first wife Jan. |
| Mr Philcox also had other children with other partners. | Mr Philcox also had other children with other partners. |
| Fathers 4 Justice said Mr Philcox had called them on several occasions and had been advised to join the group via their internet site to get help, support and advice, but that he had not done this. | Fathers 4 Justice said Mr Philcox had called them on several occasions and had been advised to join the group via their internet site to get help, support and advice, but that he had not done this. |
| A spokesman said it was also possible that he may have tried calling in the run-up to Father's Day but that the group's office had been swamped with over 1,000 enquiries in the last week alone. | A spokesman said it was also possible that he may have tried calling in the run-up to Father's Day but that the group's office had been swamped with over 1,000 enquiries in the last week alone. |
| Det Chief Insp Jones said officers were still trying to discover his last movements with his children. | Det Chief Insp Jones said officers were still trying to discover his last movements with his children. |
| He said Mr Philcox had picked up Amy and Owen from an arranged access visit on Friday, and there was a sighting of the three at Llangollen on Saturday. | He said Mr Philcox had picked up Amy and Owen from an arranged access visit on Friday, and there was a sighting of the three at Llangollen on Saturday. |
| Mr Philcox had told friends he planned the visit because the children were interested in trains. | Mr Philcox had told friends he planned the visit because the children were interested in trains. |
| Officers were alerted at about 1500 BST on Sunday by a passer-by, who found the car off a hillside road near Llanrwst, parked on a road leading from the A470 between Tal-y-cafn and Maenan. | Officers were alerted at about 1500 BST on Sunday by a passer-by, who found the car off a hillside road near Llanrwst, parked on a road leading from the A470 between Tal-y-cafn and Maenan. |