British Man Arrested Over Children's Deaths

A British man has been arrested on suspicion of killing his two children in France.

The 47-year-old divorced man, who has been named as Julian Stevenson by the Foreign Office, was held after the bodies of his son and daughter were found by police at his flat in Saint-Priest, Lyon.

Stevenson's daughter, aged five, and her brother, aged 10, were killed with a knife.

It is understood the accused had been looking after the children over the weekend. Stevenson is said to have split from the children's French mother three years ago, and the couple recently went through a bitter divorce.

The children lived with their mother after she won custody. It is believed the children were staying with their father for the first time at the weekend, who had visitation rights, but only in the presence of another person.

The children's mother is reported to have been worried about the visit and had come to find them when she saw her ex-husband in the stairwell of the four-storey block of flats. His clothes were reportedly stained with blood and she raised the alarm.

Neighbours subsequently reported seeing Stevenson flee the scene on roller skates.

He was arrested later on Saturday evening in the centre of Lyon, but news agency AFP said French prosecutors had not yet laid formal charges against him.

The agency quoted a prosecutor as saying: "We are presently holding back from the charge of premeditated murder but this could always change in the light of more testimony."

A UK Foreign Office spokesman said it was in touch with French authorities and would provide consular assistance.

Stevenson is believed to have been living in France for some time and was unemployed.

(JP/MH)