Father quizzed about twins attack
A FATHER was last night being questioned by detectives after his baby son was killed in a hammer attack that also left his twin sister fighting for her life.
Bidhya Sagar Das was arrested on Sunday in the Hackney area of east London on suspicion of murdering his son Gabriel and injuring his daughter Maria.
He was taken to an east London police station where he remains in custody.
Mr Das, 33, was arrested a day after he vanished from the rented flat in Finsbury Park, four miles away, which he shares with his Romanian partner Cristinela Datcu and their one-year-old children.
Indian-born Mr Das, a night receptionist, and Ms Datcu, a chambermaid, had both worked at a nearby budget hotel.
Neighbour Mihai Manea, who worked with the couple, said yesterday: “They seemed like a normal family. Das told me he had a few kids, [he] seemed really happy.
“He said they were eventually going to get married. He quit his job two days ago.”
Police and ambulance crews were alerted to the tragedy on Saturday at about 11pm after neighbours heard Ms Datcu screaming.
Mr Manea alleged Ms Datcu was taking a shower at the time of the attack.
He added: “In that time someone has killed the child.
“When a neighbour went into the room the boy was already dying. The boy had been hit on the head with a hammer. The boy literally died in the neighbour’s arms.” Another neighbour, who was not named, said: “I was watching TV and I heard someone was shouting. She kept on shouting.
“I opened the window and I asked her, ‘Can I help you, can I call the police for you?’ She said, ‘My kids’.”
Mr Das was allegedly at the flat just before the children were found but had left by the time emergency services arrived. A police helicopter searched the area.
Yesterday, forensic officers recovered a large hammer from a bag of builder’s sand at the rear of the building.
Detective Chief Inspector Dave Whellams, of Scotland Yard’s homicide squad, said: “A man’s been arrested. I’d like to hear from anyone who may have any information.”