Ilford: man arrested after double murder at residential care home in East London

A man in his 50s has been arrested as police probe a suspected double murder at a residential care home in east London. A man in his 80s, believed to be a resident, and a woman in her 50s, were stabbed to death. All three of those involved are thought to have known each other but not related. Police aren't currently looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Emergency services attended the residential home in Cecil Road, Ilford at approximately 22.20 BST on Saturday night (5 September) to investigate reports of an assault. Paramedics and police attempted to revive two people, who both had knife wounds, but they were pronounced dead at the scene. A 50-year-old man was arrested and is in custody at a nearby police station.

In a statement Scotland Yard said: "Officers know the identities of the deceased and next of kin have been informed. Formal identification has not taken place.A 50-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and taken to an east London police station where he remains in custody.

"Both of the victims and the man arrested are believed to have been known to each other, but they were not related. None of the three was a member of staff at the care home. Post-mortem examinations will be held on the afternoon of Sunday, 6 September, at East Ham Mortuary. Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating."

The double murder brings the total stabbed to death in the capital to four in just three days. On Friday, a 17-year-old boy was killed in St John's Estate, Hoxton. On Thursday, Shaquan Fearon was attacked and killed in Brockley, southeast London.

Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to call police on 020 8721 4868. Alternatively they can phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.