Following the deaths of a mother and a five-year-old child found with stab wounds at a property in Barnet, northwest London, this afternoon, a man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
The London Ambulance Service dispatched police to an address in Brookside South at 1.37 p.m. today.
Officers were joined by paramedics and the London Air Ambulance at the scene.
They discovered a 37-year-old woman and a five-year-old child with stab wounds when they arrived.
Both of them were pronounced dead at the scene. The victims are thought to be a mother and a daughter.
Detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command have initiated an investigation, and a 37-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Both the deceased and the arrested man knew each other.
Chief Superintendent Sara Leach, policing commander for the North West including Barnet, said: ‘The whole community will be shocked and saddened to hear of this terrible incident.
‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman and child who have died and also with the officers and paramedics who were first to arrive at what was an incredibly challenging scene.
‘Specialist detectives are working to establish what took place and a man is in custody. While they are keeping an open mind as to what has taken place, I would like to reassure residents in the local area that there is nothing to indicate, at this stage, that anyone else was involved in this incident.
‘I would urge anyone who saw or heard anything unusual earlier today, or in recent days, to come forward and speak to the police. Your information could be vital as the investigation moves forward.’
Police can be contacted by dialing 101 and giving the reference 3590/21JUN.
It can also be given anonymously to the independent organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.