Knifeman kills four members of his extended family, including two children, say New York police

Four people, including two children, have been killed by a relative in New York, according to police.

Those stabbed to death included a 12-year-old boy, an 11-year-old girl, a 44-year-old woman and a man in his 30s.

Officers were called to reports of an incident in the city’s Queens borough after a girl said “her cousin is killing her family members”.

The 11-year-old was found in front of the house and the other three were found inside bedrooms, police added.

A fifth person, a 61-year-old woman, was stabbed and taken to hospital in a critical condition.

The 38-year-old suspect then stabbed two police officers who responded to the scene on Sunday morning, police said.

Jeffrey Maddrey, NYPD chief of patrol, said one officer was struck in the neck and the other in the face.

One of the officers then shot the suspect. He was taken to hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The two officers were taken to hospital and are expected to recover.

“The weapon that was used to injure the officers was a typical kitchen steak knife,” Mr Maddrey told a press conference on Saturday.

He said it is unknown at this stage if it was the same weapon used against the other victims.

Mr Maddrey said offers were also not able to enter the home immediately because there was a fire inside the living room.