Investigators believe a man murdered his two children shortly before midnight Wednesday, then brought the bodies to police in northwest Calgary 10 hours later.

Late Thursday morning, police said they were dealing with “a serious incident” at 14 Street north of John Laurie Boulevard N.W.

They said the children, a five-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl, were found dead inside a vehicle near the turnoff into the District 3 police station.

A 37-year-old man was taken into custody.

The identities of the victims and the accused are protected by a publication ban, and they will not be named.

Police said it was the father who called them and that he confessed.

“The accused contacted 911 and stated that he had killed his children and gave his location,” said Staff Sgt. Mark Rahn.

“He was directed on the call to place the keys for the vehicle on the hood and to exit the vehicle. That’s where our members encountered him.”

“He was arrested. He was brought back to our investigative building, where he was interviewed,” Rahn said.

“He provided a statement confessing to what had occurred.”

The accused made his first appearance before a justice of the peace in court Friday morning.

He’ll remain in custody, at least over the weekend, until his next scheduled court appearance Monday morning.

No priors; no protection orders

The accused and the children’s mother were involved in a six-year, common-law relationship, police said, and had been separated for a little less than a year.

According to court records, he has no prior criminal charges or convictions.

There were no protective orders in place.

But police say he was known to them.

“The couple had a domestic history with Calgary Police Service. On four instances, we had attended their communal address,” Rahn said.

“No charges were ever laid (and) there was never any violence against the children.”

Custody of the children was shared, police said, and it wasn’t uncommon for him to take them for a few hours.

But on Wednesday police said the children’s mother called police when he didn’t return and couldn’t be reached.

There was not yet evidence of a crime.

“The advice that was given by the patrol members was that the next step for her would be to seek some sort of court order,” Rahn said.

“That’s where we found her the following day to break the news to her.”

A community devastated

Barely able to stand, the children’s mother was helped into St. Michael Eritrean Orthodox Church Friday.

Inside, members of the Eritrean community wept openly, mourning the loss.

“It has never happened in our community, and it is a devastation for us and the whole community,” said Goitom Mengesha with the Eritrean church.

“We are just shaken by what has happened here.”

Members of the police Victim Assistance Support Team (VAST) as well as Calgary’s Immigrant Outreach Society were also at the Eritrean church Friday.

“It’s really hard for (the) mom. She doesn’t have any family members in Canada,” said Adanech Sahilie with the Immigrant Outreach Society.

“She raised them alone, having this, you know, nightmare. I don’t know how she’s going to bear it.”