Pair charged with murder after two children die in Sheffield

Police investigating the deaths of two children following a “serious incident” at a property in Sheffield on Friday say two people have been charged with murder.

A man and a woman were arrested on suspicion of murder after two teenage boys died and four other children were taken to hospital for treatment.

The incident is still shrouded in mystery and South Yorkshire police said a man and woman arrested at the scene have both been charged with murder. In addition, the woman has been charged with three counts of attempted murder.

Two boys, aged 13 and 14, died after the incident.

Four other children, aged 11, 10, three, and seven months were treated in hospital.

Police said they were called at 7.30am on Friday to a house in Shiregreen. The home is believed to be a three-bedroom property and locals said emergency vehicles inundated the area.

Six children were taken to hospital by road and also by the Yorkshire air ambulance. The helicopter landed on playing fields of a nearby school, Hartley Brook primary academy.

Police have not said what caused the deaths of the two teenage boys, nor what caused the other children to be hospitalised.

On Friday, DCI Simon Palmer said: “A 37-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody at this time.”

Police have said the incident was not a shooting and that their inquiries were continuing, although they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

On Saturday, police said that “four children rescued from a house in Shiregreen” were released from hospital.

Over the weekend, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the bringing of criminal charges against two people. Police said:

“A man and woman arrested on Friday 24 May at an address in Shiregreen have now each been charged with murder [two counts. The woman has also been charged with attempted murder [three counts]. Both will appear at Sheffield magistrates court tomorrow [Monday].

“The two cannot be named for legal reasons. Anyone who chooses to name them could be charged with contempt of court.”

Locals have laid floral tributes at the scene in the south Yorkshire city.