Two children, aged 11 and seven, have died at a house in Stoke prompting a murder probe after a woman stabbed a man at a car wash.
The youngsters, who were found “unresponsive” at a house in Flax Street and were later pronounced dead, and were an 11-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl.
A woman, aged 49 and from Stoke-on-Trent, was arrested on suspicion of murder. She is said to be related to the two victims, the Stoke Sentinel reports.
The discovery of the children came after police attended reports of an altercation at GB Hand Car Wash in Campbell Road in Stoke on Sunday afternoon. A man in his 40s was stabbed and taken to hospital and has now been released.
Police later went to the house in Flax Street, discovering the injured children and a woman, the children sadly died.
A police spokesman said: “We were first called to a car wash on Campbell Road at 2.04pm after a man was stabbed. He was later taken to hospital by paramedics but has since been released.
“Officers then went to a home on Flax Street and arrested a 49-year-old woman from Stoke-on-Trent in connection with the stabbing. While we were at the address, two children were found unresponsive with significant injuries inside. Sadly, despite the best efforts of paramedics, both of them died at the scene.”
Staffordshire Police have called in the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to ‘recent police conduct’.
Detectives are continuing to appeal for CCTV and dashcam footage from the Flax Street and Campbell Road area from 1.30pm to 2.30pm yesterday.
Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Hannan said: “Our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the children. I cannot imagine the pain and shock they are feeling.
“We also understand the concern felt locally around this incident and the speculation around what has happened. We can now confirm that the two people who lost their lives are an 11-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl.
“Our priority was to inform the family before confirming the ages of the children. They are currently being supported by specially trained officers.
“The woman arrested is known to the children. We don’t believe there to be any wider threat to the public at this time. Our focus remains on finding out more about what happened yesterday and supporting the family at this deeply distressing and tragic time.”
