Community in shock after death of boy in Coupar Angus

A man was arrested yesterday after a 10-year-old boy was found dead and an eight-year-old girl was found with life threatening injuries at a property in rural Perthshire.

He's been named locally as Kane Morris.

A 37-year-old man is being held by police following an incident in Union Street, Coupar Angus, in the early hours of Sunday.

Police were called to the scene around 2.30am following reports of concern by a member of the public.

One local businessman said the man had jumped from a second floor window at the property where the children were found.

The man was found injured nearby before police entered the property and found the boy dead and the girl seriously injured.

She was rushed to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee in a critical condition with "life threatening injuries".

Floral tributes to the boy were laid at a large police cordon as local MSP John Swinney told of his shock at the tragedy.

A bunch of roses and lilies were laid with a handwritten note that read: "To Kane. I will remember you and I miss you."

Beekeper Murray McGregor, who runs a business with premises immediately behind the house where the boy's body was found, wrote on Twitter that his staff had been "alarmed" by the "major incident" unfolding when they turned for work on Sunday.

He wrote: "Sometimes things happen that give you a real shake.

"This morning at just gone eight I got a call to go into work and there were police everywhere and the small team on the extracting were alarmed.

"I arrived to be denied access and the streets all taped off due to a major incident.

"After some time it turns out that a man in the flat overlooking our home base had stabbed his young children, killing one and leaving the other criticial in hospital before jumping from a second floor window. Horrific."

The top floor window at the property at the centre of police at the home at the centre of the probe, in the centre of the north Perthshire town, lay open as police forensic officers carried out a detailed scene examination both inside and outside the house.

One local resident said: "I didn't see anything during the night but people were taken out of houses nearby as it all happened.

"It is a total shock - this is a small town, more like a village really, and it is a tight knit community."

Another man, who did not want to be named, added: "I have seen the man about with the two kids - it is horrible to think about."

Chief Inspector Ian Scott, of Police Scotland, said: "At this time, our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the young boy who has died in this incident and with the young girl who remains in a serious condition in hospital.

"I can confirm that a 37 year old man has been arrested in connection with this incident.

"Enquiries are ongoing however I believe this to have been an isolated and contained incident with no threat to the wider public.

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"There will be a police presence at the scene for some time while we undertake our investigation and I would like to thank the local community for their patience whilst we carry out our work.

"There will be additional patrols by local community based officers in Coupar Angus to help provide some reassurance to the community.

"If anyone heard or saw anything in the Union Street area, who hasn’t already spoken with officers, I would ask that they call Police Scotland on 101 (ref 0611 of 11 Nov) with details."

Perthshire North MSP John Swinney said: "I am horrified by the news emerging from Coupar Angus this morning that a child has lost his life and another child is in a critical condition.

"This is devastating news and my heart goes out to the children and their family and friends.

"The Coupar Angus community is so close to home for me and the news is literally impossible to comprehend.

"I urge anyone with relevant information to share that with Police Scotland. I will do all that I can to help everyone affected by this tragedy."