The bodies of four children and an adult have been found in a burnt-out car in east London.
Emergency services were called to South Crescent, in West Ham, after reports that a silver Nissan Primera was on fire.
The five bodies - believed to be those of an adult black male and four black children - were found inside the burned-out car. The deaths are being treated as suspicious.
Detectives at Scotland Yard believe they know the identity of all five but are awaiting formal identification by relatives. Post-mortems are due to be carried out.
Fire-fighters were called to South Crescent in E16 just after midnight to tackle the burning car.
They contacted police and investigations are now being carried out by the Yard's Serious Crime Group. An incident room is to be opened in Barking.
A police spokesman said: "We are appealing for witnesses or anyone who may have seen the Silver Nissan in the vicinity of South Crescent or Cody Road, E16 in the early hours."
PA