British family found shot dead in Spain

Three members of a British family have been found dead in a Spanish apartment, local police said tonight.

A man, a woman and a young woman, believed to be their daughter, were discovered in the property on the Costa Del Sol today.

Police said they are working on the theory that the deaths were a murder-suicide. It is thought the three died from gunshot wounds fired by one of the adults.

The trio were found inside the apartment in Mijas, Fuengirola, today by their landlord.

A Guardia Civil spokeswoman confirmed this evening that the family were British and that they rented the property where they were found dead.

“The latest information we have is that the owner of the house had not heard from the family for a few days and had not been paid,” she said.

“He went to the house today and when there was no reply at the door, he went inside. Inside he saw the man dead on the sofa and immediately called the Guardia Civil.

“When officers inspected the house they found the wife and the daughter dead in a bedroom. The initial hypothesis at this early stage of the investigation is that this was a murder-suicide.”

The spokeswoman said she could not confirm reports that the daughter had Down’s Syndrome. The Foreign Office said it was aware of the reports and officials are in contact with local authorities.