Man and three toddlers found dead in Staines were related
Three children and a man found dead at a house in Surrey were all related, police said today.
Giving an update on the tragic discovery in Staines yesterday, police said they believe it to be ‘an isolated incident with no third-party involvement’.
The children found at the house in Spelthorne shortly after 1pm yesterday were all aged under four, and are thought to be twins and their slightly older brother.
Neighbours said they believed a young Polish family lived at the house, and that the three children were all boys.
Surrey Police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to previous police contact with those involved in August last year.
Next-door neighbour Shehr Sikandari said he heard a woman’s ‘horrific screams’ shortly before police arrived yesterday.
He said: ‘It is unbelievable and traumatic what we have heard. We are still in shock.
‘Three lovely children – we have seen them playing.’
Mr Sikandari, a 48-year-old telecommunications consultant, added: ‘I haven’t met the dad much, but the children and the mum were quite lively, quite jolly.
‘The children used to play in the back all the time – making noises of joy, jumping around, playing and being very happy.
‘They were full of life. They used to often go for a walk in the park or a stroll.’
He described the house being quiet in the morning and ‘we thought they were not at home – maybe outside somewhere. Usually they take their children out on their bikes.’
But after 12pm, he said he heard screams and then the police arriving.
He added: ‘The woman, she was screaming. They were quite horrific screams and everyone came out to see what was happening.’
A spokesperson said: ‘We were called yesterday afternoon at around 1.15pm by South-East Coast Ambulance service to a property in Bremer Road, Spelthorne, where officers found the bodies of three children and a man.
‘A thorough investigation is being carried out to establish the circumstances of their deaths.
‘We can now confirm that the children and man involved were all related and the three children were all under the age of 4. Postmortems and formal identification will take place in due course.
‘Their mother and next of kin are aware and being supported by specialist officers. We request their privacy is respected at this incredibly difficult time.’
A floral tribute left outside the house on Sunday read: ‘Rest in peace little ones.
‘We will always think of you.’
DCI Gareth Hicks who is leading the investigation, said: ‘This is a truly tragic incident and a thorough investigation is underway to establish exactly what happened. We would like to thank the local community for their support and understanding whilst we have been conducting our enquiries.
‘We can also now update that whilst Bremer Road was closed for a significant amount of time yesterday, it has now fully re-opened and there will continue to be a police presence in the area for the foreseeable.’
An Independent Office for Police Conduct spokesperson said: ‘We have been notified by Surrey Police about the tragic incident in Spelthorne.
‘We will be assessing a referral from the force to decide whether any action is required by the IOPC.’
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