A murder probe has been launched after a 79-year-old man was killed and three children were attacked during an attack at a home in Tower Hamlets.

The pensioner and members of a family were set upon at a property in Huddleston Close yesterday.

Three children - a 13-year-old boy, a 11-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy - were also attacked in the incident.

Police were called to the property just before 7pm and found the victims suffering from stab injuries, Scotland Yard said today.

Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service took the 79-year-old man to hospital but he was pronounced dead later the same evening.

The three children were recovering from their injuries in hospital today.

A 31-year-old man, also found at the property suffering from self-inflicted stab injuries, was arrested on suspicion of murder.

It is believed the family are Bengali and have lived on the estate for more than 22 years.

Neighbours spoke of their shock today after hearing of the tragedy.

Sarah Morgan said: "We saw the police arrive and screaming coming from a neighbouring house. You feel you do not want to let your kids out because it's not safe."

Naher Haqua said: "I was shocked when I got home because I saw the police and at first I thought it was one of my family members.

"I saw the family coming out of the house and the baby being carried into the ambulance. He had been bandaged up."

Another neighbour who declined to give her name said:

"I was shocked because I have never experienced anything like this around here before. I did not know how serious it was until later on."



Detectives from the Metropolian Police's Homicide and Major Crime Command were said be keeping "an open mind" about the motive in the attack.

A police spokesman said: "Next of kin have been informed. Formal identification and a post-mortem examination of the 79-year-old man will be scheduled in due course. The investigation continues".