Detectives in Jersey are waiting to question a Polish suspect in hospital over the murders of his wife, their two children and her father.
Six people including two children, died in the knife attack at a flat in St Helier.
The suspected attacker - named as Damian Rzeszowski (30) - is in police custody at Jersey General Hospital where he is also recovering from surgery following the incident at about 3pm in a residential area close to the town centre.
Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that all the victims of yesterday’s stabbings were of Polish origin, including four from one family. A family friend and her young child were also understood to be among the victims of the attack, which has stunned the island.
The attack spilled from a flat and into the street yesterday afternoon. Neighbours told today how they fended off the “mumbling” attacker with a traffic cone before he turned his knife on himself.
Jersey police said that officers were called to a flat at Victoria Crescent, Upper Midvale Road, St Helier, after 3pm following reports of a multiple stabbing.
The area around where the incident occurred was sealed off while a major incident room was set up at police headquarters in St Helier.
Jersey’s chief minister, Senator Terry Le Sueur, said: “I was deeply saddened and shocked by yesterday’s tragic events and I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to the friends and relatives of those involved.
“I have every confidence in the ability and professionalism of our police force in handling this investigation. We must now avoid speculation and allow them to continue with this important work," he said.
Monseigneur Nicholas France, head of the Catholic Church on the island, said there was “great distress and anxiety” at the attack, and that prayers had been offered at a Polish Mass last night for those involved.
Mike Bowron, chief officer for Jersey Police, called for local communities to remain "dignified and calm" as he said all the victims were from Poland and four were from the same family.
"Jersey is an incredibly safe place, one of the safest in the western world, and incidents of this nature are exceptionally rare," he said in a statement.
"It makes such a tragedy even more difficult for people to come to terms with, and no one could fail to be affected by the events that unfolded here yesterday."
PA