This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/30/gibraltar-couple-and-two-children-found-stabbed-to-death
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Gibraltar couple and two children found stabbed to death | Gibraltar couple and two children found stabbed to death |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A couple and two children, including a baby, have been found dead with stab wounds in an apparent murder-suicide in an apartment in Gibraltar. | A couple and two children, including a baby, have been found dead with stab wounds in an apparent murder-suicide in an apartment in Gibraltar. |
| Police in the British overseas territory were called to the property in the Boschetti’s Steps area at 11.35am on Monday. | Police in the British overseas territory were called to the property in the Boschetti’s Steps area at 11.35am on Monday. |
| They found a 31-year-old British man, a a 37-year-old Spanish woman, a four-year-old girl and a six-week-old girl. | They found a 31-year-old British man, a a 37-year-old Spanish woman, a four-year-old girl and a six-week-old girl. |
| Spanish media reported that the family had been living in Spain and had only recently arrived in Gibraltar. The British man involved was originally from Liverpool, according to police sources quoted by El Mundo newspaper. | Spanish media reported that the family had been living in Spain and had only recently arrived in Gibraltar. The British man involved was originally from Liverpool, according to police sources quoted by El Mundo newspaper. |
| The newspaper said the four-year-old girl was believed to be the woman’s daughter from a previous relationship, while the baby had been born in Spain. | The newspaper said the four-year-old girl was believed to be the woman’s daughter from a previous relationship, while the baby had been born in Spain. |
| Detectives and forensic officers are working in the flat and the area remains cordoned off. | Detectives and forensic officers are working in the flat and the area remains cordoned off. |
| A spokesman for the Royal Gibraltar police said: “It is believed that all the deceased belong to the same family. | A spokesman for the Royal Gibraltar police said: “It is believed that all the deceased belong to the same family. |
| “However, there are still inquiries being conducted to locate close relatives of the family and as you may understand it is for this reason that the identities of the deceased are not being disclosed.” | “However, there are still inquiries being conducted to locate close relatives of the family and as you may understand it is for this reason that the identities of the deceased are not being disclosed.” |
| The spokesman said he understood that next of kin in the UK have been informed of the tragedy. | The spokesman said he understood that next of kin in the UK have been informed of the tragedy. |
| Asked how the police were alerted, he said: “A member of staff of the company that was letting out the flat, which is a rental property, attended the residence. | Asked how the police were alerted, he said: “A member of staff of the company that was letting out the flat, which is a rental property, attended the residence. |
| “They got no answer from within but noticed that the house was locked from inside and that sent a few alarm bells ringing and they decided to call the police. | “They got no answer from within but noticed that the house was locked from inside and that sent a few alarm bells ringing and they decided to call the police. |
| “At this present moment in time, a full investigation is being conducted by officers of the serious crime unit to establish the cause surrounding the untimely deaths of this young family and are encouraging anyone who maybe able to support the investigation to contact the duty officer of the Royal Gibraltar police. | “At this present moment in time, a full investigation is being conducted by officers of the serious crime unit to establish the cause surrounding the untimely deaths of this young family and are encouraging anyone who maybe able to support the investigation to contact the duty officer of the Royal Gibraltar police. |
| .@RGPolice tell journalists natural causes ruled out in #BoschettiSteps, but it's too soon to speculate whether this was a multiple homicide | .@RGPolice tell journalists natural causes ruled out in #BoschettiSteps, but it's too soon to speculate whether this was a multiple homicide |
| “Presently, we are not looking for anyone involved in this very unfortunate event, but the investigation will be thorough and detailed drawing in on the expertise of other professionals. | “Presently, we are not looking for anyone involved in this very unfortunate event, but the investigation will be thorough and detailed drawing in on the expertise of other professionals. |
| “Her Majesty’s coroner has already been informed and has visited the scene.” | “Her Majesty’s coroner has already been informed and has visited the scene.” |
| Police commissioner Eddie Yome declined to comment on the cause of death, saying it would be speculation at this stage. “These are unexplained deaths but they are not from natural causes,” he told a press conference. | Police commissioner Eddie Yome declined to comment on the cause of death, saying it would be speculation at this stage. “These are unexplained deaths but they are not from natural causes,” he told a press conference. |
| “We are not looking for anyone involved in this very unfortunate event, but the investigation will be thorough and detailed, drawing on the expertise of other professionals,” he said. | “We are not looking for anyone involved in this very unfortunate event, but the investigation will be thorough and detailed, drawing on the expertise of other professionals,” he said. |
| A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are looking into reports that British nationals may be involved in an incident in Gibraltar. We stand ready to provide consular assistance.” | A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are looking into reports that British nationals may be involved in an incident in Gibraltar. We stand ready to provide consular assistance.” |
| A police spokesman added: “These people had only been in Gibraltar for a few days, I think it was either last Thursday or Friday that they arrived. | A police spokesman added: “These people had only been in Gibraltar for a few days, I think it was either last Thursday or Friday that they arrived. |
| “We are trying to discover if they were here in transit to the UK or whether they were planning on staying for any length of time in Gibraltar.” | “We are trying to discover if they were here in transit to the UK or whether they were planning on staying for any length of time in Gibraltar.” |
| Gibraltar’s chief minister, Fabian Picardo, described the violent deaths as an “aberration” and adjourned the parliamentary session, saying the discovery of the bodies meant that “today is not a day for gladiatorial political games”. | Gibraltar’s chief minister, Fabian Picardo, described the violent deaths as an “aberration” and adjourned the parliamentary session, saying the discovery of the bodies meant that “today is not a day for gladiatorial political games”. |
| Picardo added: “Gibraltarians are not accustomed to witness this type of incident in our peaceful and law-abiding community. Words will fail us all at a moment like this and all we can do is keep the victims and their families in our thoughts and put our full trust in the rule of law so that justice prevails.” | Picardo added: “Gibraltarians are not accustomed to witness this type of incident in our peaceful and law-abiding community. Words will fail us all at a moment like this and all we can do is keep the victims and their families in our thoughts and put our full trust in the rule of law so that justice prevails.” |