A baby along with his three-year-old sister and seven-year-brother have died after being stabbed to death inside their home in Bristol, police have said.
Siblings Fares Bash, seven, Joury Bash, three, and nine-month-old Mohammed Bash were found dead in the Sea Mills area of Bristol on Sunday.
Avon and Somerset Police said a 42-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of their murder remains in hospital undergoing treatment for non life-threatening injuries.
Chief Inspector Vicks Hayward-Melen said: ‘The amount of time we can legally keep a person in custody does not start until they are brought into a police station, so will not include any periods of time spent in hospital.
‘Our investigation, led by the Major Crime Investigation Team, is progressing at pace and we’re carrying out comprehensive inquiries to establish the events which led to this devastating loss of life.
Nine-month-old Mohammed Bash (pictured) was found dead along with two his two older siblings
Fares Bash, seven and sister Joury Bash, three (pictured above) were also found dead. Fares is pictured singing and playing a red ukulele
Police attended an address in Blaise Walk in Sea Mills, Bristol shortly after midnight on Sunday
Chief Inspector Vicks Hayward-Melen gives an update on the investigation on Sunday
‘The main cordons put in place in Blaise Walk have been lifted and we would like to take this opportunity to thank local residents for their patience and support while we carried out a thorough investigation at the scene.’
The force said the Independent Office for Police Conduct had been informed about the incident due to ‘prior police contact’.
Avon and Somerset Police Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford added: ‘I am deeply saddened by the news of the deaths of three children today in Sea Mills.
‘The deaths of these children is heart breaking. My thoughts are with all those who knew and cared for these children and with the local community, who I know will be impacted.
The three children were found dead in Blaise Walk in Sea Mills near Bristol on Sunday
Police have arrested a woman on suspicion of murder after three children were found dead at an address in Blaise Walk, Sea Mills in Bristol. Pictured: Police at the scene on Sunday
Officers gather at the scene in Sea Mills, Bristol on Sunday after three children were found dead
‘The police have made an arrest and believe this to be an isolated incident. They have assessed that there is no further risk to the wider community.
‘There are questions to be asked about how such an appalling event has occurred and what could have been done to prevent it, but for now, I ask that people allow the police to investigate.’
Tributes have poured in for the three children from across the local community.
Salwa Bashar, a family friend from Bristol, said: “I have known this family for over six years now. They are part of our community, they’re family friends.
“She and her husband are a very big part of our community, they were just lovely people and were always smiling. She’s very friendly and he’s also really friendly.
“I was shocked (when I heard the news) – I didn’t want to believe it, I didn’t want it to be true. I was, I still am, in shock. I was really really sad, I still am very sad.’
Mayor of Bristol Martin Reeves wrote on Facebook: ‘It’s almost impossible to find the words to describe this afternoon’s devastating news from Sea Mills, Bristol
‘My thoughts are with all who knew these three young children – we will be working with schools, the community, and the police to support people.’