The best friend of an 11-year-old girl who was found dead at home with her family made a chilling comment before the tragic discovery.
The bodies of Maja Wlodarczyk, her dad Michal, 39, mum Monika, 35, and brother Dawid, three, were discovered at their flat in west London on Friday.
Police forced entry to their property on Staines Road, Bedfont, but nothing could be done to save the Polish family.
James Hoopa said his daughter Jasmine was Maja's best friend - and on Friday afternoon she ran home to tell her family she thought something had happened to the girl.
Mr Hoopa told MyLondon: "My daughter goes to school with the little girl in the same year.
"Last night I finished with about half six and I came down here and I saw the police cars and everything. I got home and I said well, have you contacted your friend? Is she okay? But you know what children are like, no notice.
"Then I come back from work today I find out that she's dead. I found out Maja is dead. We know the parents as well, the dad and the mum, they all go out together. She was just a normal child, growing up, a lovely girl. She’s just a normal child, this is a shock.
"I don't know how my daughter is going to get through this because my daughter is very best mates with her.
"For her to go through this experience, something else as parents that we’ve got to deal with. We’re neighbours, we live across the road, this is a shock - it’s going to take some time to settle into this one."
His wife added: "Occasionally I’d take them out, just me, Maja and Jasmine would go out together.
"We'd plan to go out, we went to McDonald’s, we went to Nando’s, not long ago we went to Staines shopping. This morning she went out. Not long later she came home, I was a bit surprised she came home so quickly.
"She said to me 'mum, mum, something's happened, I think Maja, something's happened to her'.
"I said let's go and check, we saw the article online that they'd passed away.
"Me, Jasmine, and Jennifer, my daughter, we all rushed down to verify because the description matched them. I thought 'no, no this is not right'.
"I just can't believe it. She was a very brave girl, very mature for her age. It's just a shock. I don't know how we're all going to pull through as family."
After the four family members were found dead, Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley, who is leading the investigation, said: "I would like to assure the community that specialist detectives are working to establish the circumstances which led to this tragic incident and we will provide further updates as soon as appropriate. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by what has happened.
"Our investigation is at an early stage, and the situation remains that we are not currently seeking anybody else in connection with the incident.
"We are however retaining an open mind, and I would ask anyone who feels they have pertinent information to contact us as soon as possible."
Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, local policing commander for west London, said: "I know the shock and distress that this terrible incident will cause among the community in Hounslow and beyond. I am also aware that this incident will be particularly upsetting for children, and I ask people to please be responsible about what they post on social media, including not naming or speculating as to the names of those who’ve died.
"There will be additional police officers in the area across the weekend, I urge anyone with information or concerns to speak with those officers."
