A woman, who allegedly had psychiatric problems, stabbed to death her 10-year-old nephew and her newborn child, while seriously injuring her 4-year-old niece on Christmas night in Lime, in the Paris region.
The little girl has been taken to hospital and is being treated in critical condition.
Police searching the house where the tragedy unfolded have identified the third victim: a baby born in November. The newborn was found "on the floor" of the apartment where five adults and three children had gathered for Christmas Eve. He did not show any obvious injuries, but the forensic examination revealed "bodily injuries", the Versailles prosecutor's office said, without giving further details.
The aunt was taken into custody and initially taken to hospital, however she was quickly discharged and is now expected to testify at the authorities. He is 31 years old and worked in the municipality of Lime.
Neighbors told AFP that the family had moved to the ground floor of a social housing building a few months ago, in this neighborhood near the train station. Louis, a occupant of the building, said he was "shaken" from his sleep by the "horrible screams" and, looking to see what happened, reached the porch of the apartment, which overlooks a playground. "There, I saw my neighbor, my uncle, screaming for help and massaging his nephew." The neighbor helped the uncle, trying to keep the child alive until the ambulance arrived "15-20 minutes later".
However, the boy had received many stab wounds to the chest and rescuers were unable to bring him back.
According to a police source, the aunt said she was "demonized" and had sores on her wrists. Another source said he was under psychiatric care, but had not bothered police for another incident in the past.