Sheffield 'incident': Two children die and four in hospital after 'serious incident'

South Yorkshire Police say officers responded to 'concerns for safety' at house in Shiregreen

Two children have died and four others are hospital after a “serious incident” in Sheffield, say police.

Officers went to a house in the Shiregreen area of the city after safety concerns were raised at around 7.30am on Friday.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed it was not a shooting in response to rumours spreading on social media but did not give any further details.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Yorkshire Air Ambulance attended the scene in Greggs House Road and transported six children to hospital.

Two boys, aged 13 and 14, later died. The four others, aged 11, 10, three, and seven-months, remain in hospital receiving treatment.

A 37-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The cause of death for the two boys has yet to be established, said police.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Palmer said: “Detectives and specialist officers remain in the Gregg House Road area carrying out enquiries and we are working hard to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding this incident.

“We will remain in the area this afternoon and into the evening carrying out enquiries and providing reassurance. I appreciate the events of this morning have caused concern locally but I’d like to reassure you that there is no wider risk to the community.

“We will be providing regular updates when we are able to. If anyone does have concerns, please do not hesitate to speak to an officer in the area.

“To allow the investigation to progress, I would please ask that people are mindful of what they are posting on social media and the potential distress this may cause.”

Local resident Aaron Brunskill said residents came out into the street at 8am to find around 15 police cars and four ambulances.

He said: “The police weren’t telling us anything. I know there’s children there. I’ve just seen them walking back to the shops and that’s all I know.

“There’s unconfirmed reports about everything. Everyone speaking on the road said the first one out had to be resuscitated in the ambulance and it was a pretty serious incident.

“There were four ambulances. Everyone got took away in an ambulance.”

A cordon was put in place and buses were diverted from the area.

The air ambulance landed in the playground of Hartley Brook Primary Academy, around 100 metres away from the scene.

Police said the incident was not related to the school, which is open as normal.

Additional reporting by Press Association