The two children’s guardians, a man and a woman, are arrested on suspicion of double murder.
The boy and girl would have gone to their school today.
But just before 8pm on Tuesday, the police were called to the family’s home in Södertälje. The children were then found lifeless in the home. Both were taken to hospital but later pronounced dead. According to reports, there were signs that the children may have been dead for at least a few hours when the police arrived.
The now arrested man was also found seriously injured at the scene and was taken to hospital by ambulance. According to information to TV4 Nyheterna, he should have had a suspected knife injury.
Bereavement support in Södertälje
The municipality of Södertälje has activated a crisis group to deal with the shock and grief at, among other things, the school of the two dead children.
– We started a collaboration with the police and the principal of the school in question late yesterday. We have made a plan for how we meet the children in the morning, says Victoria Larsson, responsible for the municipality’s crisis support at the Children and Youth Administration in Södertälje.
– Then we work with coordination with the school management on what support is needed, we will do that in the next few days.
The municipality also cooperates with various local organizations for dealing with grief.
– There are many voluntary forces, associations and religious communities. Then we also have family support, part of the social service, where you can turn. The police are carrying out safety measures in the area, says Victoria Larsson.
School: Incredibly tragic
The school in question tells TV4 Nyheterna that it works to support children, students, employees and guardians.
– What has happened is incredibly tragic. The focus for us right now is to be there as support so that we can talk about what happened. The school established a crisis group early this morning and information has gone out to guardians through various channels, says a spokesperson for school operations.
– The school has the support of its own school counselor and we will also use the help of school psychologists and counselors. The school’s responsibility mentors and other educators are also present. We think it is particularly important that we now have many adults around the children. We also have close cooperation with the municipality and their crisis support functions.
Memorial service in church
On Thursday, All Saints’ Church in Södertälje will also open to school students and the public. A memorial service will also be held in the afternoon.
– Then the residents of Södertälje can gather. There are different needs that are met in different ways. This is an opportunity to get together, says Victoria Larsson.
The prosecutor who leads the murder investigation states that intensive police work is underway and that the two suspects are to be remanded in custody by Saturday at the latest.