Police launch Birmingham double murder probe

A double murder investigation was launched today after two bodies were discovered at a house in Birmingham.

Police were called to an address in Friary Road, Handsworth Wood, just after 8am where the body of a 62-year-old man and a 58-year-old woman were found.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

A post mortem is yet to be carried out, but police said this afternoon it appears the couple were assaulted.

West Midlands Police now has 60 officers working on the case and detectives from Force CID, forensic specialists and local neighbourhood officers were at the scene carrying out house to house, CCTV and forensic enquiries.

The family of the couple have been informed although the bodies have yet to be formally identified.

Details of the pair are not being released at this stage.

Det Supt Richard Baker, from Force CID, said: "Our thoughts are with the family of this couple, and the community in which they lived. We are going to do everything that we can to find those responsible as quickly as possible.

"We have 60 officers working on this enquiry and neighbourhood officers are currently out in the local area delivering reassurance messages.

"This is a major investigation with a number of extremely fast enquiries currently being undertaken.

"I would particularly appeal to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area between 7.15pm last night when the couple were last spoken to and 8am this morning.

"Local people hold the key to finding who his responsible for this terrible tragedy. If you believe that you have any piece of information that may help our enquiries, I would ask you to call us as soon as possible."

Anyone with information should contact Force CID in Birmingham on 101 and ask for officers working on Operation Tiler or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.