Cavalryman stabs his children to death

A father, Michael Pederson, who survived an IRA bomb attack when he was serving in the British Army has killed himself after first stabbing his two children to death.

The children's bodies were found with their father's in a country lane, at Newton Stacey in Hampshire, UK. They were next to a Saab convertible car.

The former sergeant in the Household Cavalry was survivor when his unit was attacked by the IRA in Hyde Park. The attack took place in 1982 and was a nail bomb attack.

Mr Pederson's was separated from his wife and had taken the children out on an arranged visit. The children's mother was too devastated to make a statement but her father, the children's grandfather, William Clifford, told reporters: "We are obviously devastated and what we would ask is that you respect our privacy in this matter. It is extremely distressing and that is all I want to say."

Police said that Mr Pederson, who lived in Chersty, did not return the children to their mother, Erica, at the 5pm time arranged. A walker found their bodies around an hour and a quarter later, 6.15pm, behind the Saab car.

Police believe that the deaths took place sometime earlier in the afternoon and they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the deaths.