A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after four people, believed to be from the same family, were found stabbed to death at a house in south London.
The victims, three women in their mid-60s, 40s and 30s and a man in his mid-60s, were pronounced dead at the scene in Delaford Road, Bermondsey, early on Monday morning. Part of the road has been cordoned off.
Residents said that they believe the victims were a mother, father and two adult daughters, but that the family were not well known in the area.
Police were called at around 1.40am on Monday following reports of a disturbance and, after forcing entry to the home, discovered four people with fatal stab wounds.
The suspect is in custody at a south London police station, according to the Metropolitan Police. It is thought all five people were known to each other.
Metropolitan Police Commander Colin Wingrove said: "I want to offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of all those concerned. This is a deeply shocking incident, and we will do everything we can to provide support to everyone affected at this difficult time."
One neighbour, who declined to be named, said: "I was watching telly when, at about half one in the morning, I heard a woman screaming for about five minutes.
"It was awful. I thought it was someone holding someone hostage or something. But when I heard the police, the helicopter, the ambulances, I knew it was really serious.
"I saw about eight or nine police cars – all were armed – come out and surround the area."
Another neighbour said: "I saw a load of police jump out of their cars with guns. There were about eight police cars, several ambulances, and some of them were going door to door.
"They came to the back garden to make sure our door was secure. It was about 2am. We didn't hear anything else – we were just told to stay inside. My husband said he swore he heard screaming, shouts, some commotion, but I didn't hear anything."
Bermondsey resident Anne Birkett, 60, whose house looks onto the property where the victims were found, said she was woken by police sirens and a helicopter just before 2am.
"It's devastating – you hear all of this but you never assume it's going to be right on your own doorstep," she said. "I'm a foster carer and I've got children in my care, and now I've got to protect them now because of what's happened."
She said there are several primary schools in the residential area near the scene.
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, tweeted: "I am heartbroken that three women and a man were killed last night in a devastating incident at an address in Southwark. My thoughts are with the family and friends who have lost loved ones in this awful crime.
"I am in contact with the leadership of the Metropolitan Police. An investigation is under way, and one man has been arrested. I urge anyone who has information that could be relevant to contact the police immediately."
Harriet Harman, the Labour MP for Camberwell and Peckham, described the stabbings as a "terrible tragedy".
"Tragically four people have been killed and that is shocking to happen anywhere but especially in this very peaceful, quiet, very settled community here," she told reporters at the scene.
"The police have arrested someone, but it's really important still that people give information, any information they've got to the police so that whoever committed this horrific crime can be brought to justice."
