Tenerife 'murder': Father arrested after mother and son, 10, found dead in cave

Members of an emergency team stand on a road leading to a cave where a mother and son were found in Tenerife
AP

A German woman and her 10-year-old son have been found dead in a cave in Tenerife.

Police were told of the location of the bodies by a five-year-old boy who described an alleged murder scene at the cave.

He told officers his father had taken the family to the location and attacked them, Spain's private Europa Press news agency reported.

The boy said he escaped after he saw large quantities of blood.

Members of the Spanish Civil Guard patrol make their way to the crime scene
AP

Officers arrested the father, 43, who is also German, in an apartment in downtown Adeje.

The man had reportedly moved to the island on a permanent basis and the woman and their two sons arrived on Monday to visit, according to reports.

More than 100 emergency workers and police, aided by helicopters, participated in the search for the mother and son.

Officers arrive at the a road leading to the cave where the two bodies were found
AP

They were located in a cave between two ravines at the base of the Teide volcano, which towers over Tenerife island, the Spanish Civil Guard said.

The bodies had signs of violence, Spain's El Pais newspaper reported, citing anonymous investigation sources.

A local court that specialises in crimes against women has taken charge of the case and sealed the investigation.

The volcanic Tenerife island in the Atlantic Ocean is a popular holiday destination.

Agencies contributed to this report

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