Mum and two children found dead as police launch international murder investigation

A murder investigation has been launched after a mother and her two children were found dead inside a home in Bedfordshire.

Police discovered the bodies at a property in Great Denham after concerns were raised when the family had not been seen for several days.

Officers forced entry into the home on Carnoustie Drive, where they found the mother and two children. Bedfordshire Police said the incident is being treated as a complex murder investigation.

A suspect known to the victims has been identified by detectives, and police believe the person has since left the UK.

Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy described the case as "deeply distressing" and said specialist teams were working to establish exactly what happened.

He said police were committing all necessary resources to finding the person responsible while supporting those affected by the tragedy.

Major crime teams from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire police forces are leading the investigation.

Additional officers have been deployed in the Great Denham area to provide reassurance to residents. Police said there is currently no indication of a wider threat to the public.

Authorities have urged people not to speculate about the circumstances of the deaths and to respect the privacy of the victims' family and friends.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is being asked to contact police, quoting Operation Snowdrift.