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Father held over children deaths | Father held over children deaths |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his two children after they were found unconscious and died later in hospital. | |
A boy, aged two, and his sister, aged four, were found at a flat in Whalley Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, shortly after 0800 BST. | |
Attempts were made at the scene to resuscitate the children. | Attempts were made at the scene to resuscitate the children. |
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said a 37-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder. | |
'Very shocking' | 'Very shocking' |
A GMP spokeswoman said: "The 37-year-old man is due to be questioned by officers. Inquiries are continuing." | |
The three-storey block where the children were found, Lansbury House, is managed by Contour Housing, according to a plaque outside. | The three-storey block where the children were found, Lansbury House, is managed by Contour Housing, according to a plaque outside. |
The block is on a street in Whalley Range, a suburb two miles south of the city centre. | The block is on a street in Whalley Range, a suburb two miles south of the city centre. |
I'm shocked, I just can't believe it, I can't understand what's happened Sophie Partington, neighbour | |
Neighbour Ben Draper, 32, a tree surgeon, said: "To hear what has happened is very shocking." | Neighbour Ben Draper, 32, a tree surgeon, said: "To hear what has happened is very shocking." |
Forensic science investigators are examining the ground floor flat and part of the gardens outside its patio door. | |
Mussi Gebremariam, 32, who lives in a ground floor flat opposite to where the children lived, said: "I know the woman, and her two children, but I don't know them closely. | |
"We say hi when we see each other. She's from South Africa. | |
"Last year I asked her where she was from and she told me she was from there. | |
Examinations of the garden are also being carried out | |
"I saw the children running around a lot. They looked happy and I'm shocked to hear that this has happened." | |
They were described as a "normal, happy Christian family" by another neighbour. | |
Sophie Partington, 34, who also lives in Lansbury House, said: "I'm shocked, I just can't believe it, I can't understand what's happened. | |
"The kids were lovely, cute little kids. He was finding his feet and she was starting school. | |
"Eva (my neighbour) was with them at the church on Saturday at the Harvest Festival doing face-painting. She said they had a really lovely day. | |
"The kids seemed really happy and well cared for. I can't understand how something like this could happen, underneath where you live, I didn't hear anything this morning." | |
Detectives from GMP are expected to give more details of the investigation later. |