Two teenage boys have died after being taken to hospital following a “serious incident” at a residential property in Shiregreen, Sheffield.
Police were called at around 7.30am on Friday to reports of concern for safety at a property in Gregg House Road.
Six children in total were taken to hospital - aged between seven months old and 14. The children who have died are males aged 14 and 13 and the cause of their deaths has not yet been established.
Four other children, aged 11, 10, three and seven-months remain in hospital.
A 37-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident and remain in custody.
Speaking at the scene, Superintendent Paul McCurry said the four children in hospital were not in a life threatening condition.
He said: “They are conscious. They are being given the necessary care that they need. And they will be in hospital for certainly the next few hours.”
The officer said: “I am aware of wider speculation regarding the use of weapons.
“At the moment there is no wider risk to the community in Sheffield.”
Residents had speculated that there had been a shooting at the property but police have confirmed that is not the case.
The house is just 100 metres from Hartley Brook Primary Academy, with an air ambulance landing in the school playground. Police said the incident is not related to the school, which is open as normal. Traffic is being diverted from the area.
A cordon was partially lifted in the area by early afternoon, but officers and forensics teams continued to examine a semi-detached council-type house.
The three-bed property is similar to many on the north Sheffield estate, but has as unkempt garden with an old, yellow Ford Fiesta parked on the front lawn.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Palmer, investigating, said: “Detectives and specialist officers remain in the Gregg House Road area carrying out enquiries and we are working hard to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding this incident.
“We will remain in the area this afternoon and into the evening carrying out enquiries and providing reassurance. I appreciate the events of this morning have caused concern locally but I’d like to reassure you that there is no wider risk to the community. We will be providing regular updates when we are able to. If anyone does have concerns, please do not hesitate to speak to an officer in the area.
“To allow the investigation to progress, I would please ask that people are mindful of what they are posting on social media and the potential distress this may cause.”
Labour MP for Sheffield Brightness and Hillsborough, which covers Shiregreen Gill Furniss tweeted that she had been “deeply saddened” by the tragedy. She added: “My sympathies are with the loved ones of the children who have lost their lives. Shiregreen is a strong community - I know the whole area is shaken by what has happened.”
Local resident Aaron Brunskill said residents came out into the street at 8am to find around 15 police cars and four ambulances.
He said: “The police weren’t telling us anything.
“I know there’s children there. I’ve just seen them walking back to the shops and that’s all I know.
“There’s unconfirmed reports about everything.
“Everyone speaking on the road said the first one out had to be resuscitated in the ambulance and it was a pretty serious incident.
“There were four ambulances. Everyone got took away in an ambulance.”
“I don’t know if the air ambulance was used.”
Another neighbour who asked not to be named, said: “ I was on the bus and had to get off before it turned onto Gregg House Road because there was a police car blocking it.
“So walked towards school and could see police cars, ambulances and it was all blocked off and we had to walk the long way around.
“When we got to school there was an air ambulance parked on the school yard.
“As I was walking away I could hear sirens for a long time either going to scene or away.”