The deaths of two young boys and a girl in an incident at an Edinburgh flat are being treated as suspicious, police have confirmed.
Fire, police and ambulance crews were called to reports of a fire at 166 Slateford Road in the west of the city after 1500 BST.
A woman who is thought to be the children's mother was also taken to the city's Royal Infirmary by ambulance.
It is understood the children did not die as a result of a blast or the fire.
A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: "A criminal investigation is currently underway and nothing more can be said at this time into the circumstances which led to their deaths."
The identity of the children will not be released until after post mortems have been carried out.
The woman, who was found injured on the ground outside the property, remains in hospital.
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End Quote Omar Barisah NeighbourWe saw a woman lying on the ground. She was covered by a sheet, then she was taken in an ambulance and we were asked to move to a safer area”
The police spokesman said a fire on the first floor of the three-storey modern apartment block was extinguished by Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service and the property made safe.
Gas supply at the scene was isolated as a precaution, and Scotland Gas Networks engineers were sent to the scene.
However, it was confirmed there was not a fault with the gas supply to the flat.
Several foreign students living in the terraced block said they believed the injured woman lived in the property with her three children, and that they were newcomers to the building.
Some said they believed the woman had jumped from a balcony.
Chemical engineering student Moe Harbi, 22, from Saudi Arabia, said he smelt gas at about 0100 BST on Wednesday.
He added: "I thought it was from my flat though I checked the kitchen and the oven and then I slept. I didn't think it was from my neighbours."
Emergency services were called to the scene at 1500 BST Omar Barisah, 20, also a student, told BBC Scotland he had heard a noise "like a shooting gun".
He added: "It felt like a big bang - it was absolutely frightening and I had to take my little brother, and his friend who was sleeping and woke up because of the noise, and we ran out of the house.
"We saw a woman lying on the ground. She was covered by a sheet, then she was taken in an ambulance and we were asked to move to a safer area."
A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue said: "Two fire appliances and a turntable ladder attended at the address, a three-storey modern townhouse. Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished a small fire on the first floor of the building.
"Gas at the property was isolated as a precaution and fire crews remain at the scene with the fire investigation unit - they are currently liaising with the police."
'Terrible incident'
The spokesman said there was "no significant structural damage to the building" and confirmed that the fire was extinguished very quickly.
Ann Fairbairn, of Tallulah Hairdressing on Lanark Road, which joins on to Slateford Road, said: "The road has been cordoned off and it's swarming with police, nobody is allowed in or out.
"There are ambulances, police and it looks like CID as well as the fire service."
Edinburgh City Council leader Jenny Dawe said: "Although there is little information at the moment this is obviously a terrible incident and our thoughts go to those who are affected.
"The council will provide whatever support the emergency services require as they deal with the incident and its aftermath."
Police said westbound traffic was being diverted at Longstone Garage and eastbound drivers are being diverted at Chesser Avenue.
There are also warnings of heavy traffic on the A71 Gorgie Road.
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