British police have arrested a 37-year-old man on suspicion of murdering his two children following the break-up of his marriage.
The mother of the boy, aged two, and four-year-old girl discovered their bodies at their Manchester home, police said today.
They were found unconscious at about 8am and it is believed they were strangled.
Detective Superintendent Geoff Wessell of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the couple were estranged. The children spent the weekend with their 37-year-old father and were due to be picked up by their mother this morning.
The children’s bodies were removed from the scene and they were pronounced dead a short time later at hospital.
Mr Wessell said: “They were found in a bedroom with the father there next to them. He lived at the address. His ex-partner recently moved out and had agreed to let the father look after the children for the weekend.
“She had gone back for clothes and let herself in and was confronted by this traumatic scene.”
Mr Wessell said detectives are not seeking anyone else in connection with the deaths.
The father lived in Lansbury House, a three-storey housing association block of flats on leafy Whalley Road in Whalley Range, a suburb close to the city centre.
Mr Wessell said: “This was a traumatic incident for the family and the officers that attended. No other person is being sought in connection and that male arrested remains in custody and is due to be interviewed today.”
The detective revealed that after his arrest the children’s father collapsed and was taken to hospital.
He said the children’s mother, believed to be studying for a PhD, was “extremely distressed” and is being comforted by specialist family liaison officers.
Post-mortem examinations are expected to be carried out later today. Mr Wessell said he believed the family came from either South Africa or Zimbabwe, and they had lived in England for six years.
PA