Funeral fund created for children presumed murdered by their mother

After the shocking killing of five children in one family, allegedly by their mother, in the German city of Solingen, the city has set up an account for donations to help pay for, among other things, funerals for the victims.

Local authorities said that numerous potential donors had contacted them on social media.

The mother, who had been taking care of the children on her own since she split from her husband, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

She is accused of suffocating five of her children, aged between 1 and 8. The oldest, an 11-year-old, was the only sibling to survive, and is now staying with his grandmother.

Badly injured

The mother was badly injured after the crime, when she apparently tried to throw herself under a train. No information on her current health condition has been released by the prosecutors or police. She is the only suspect.

Neighbours of the family organized a memorial on Saturday night, with some 800 people observing a minute's silence for the dead children.

The childrens' deaths had "struck right at the heart" of the local community, organizers said.