Triple Bangladeshi murder survivor says suspects waited for him after killing family

The lone survivor of the triple murder of a Bangladeshi family says he had an argument with the suspect a week before the killings

The lone survivor of the fatal stabbing of a Bangladeshi family in Rome has told police the suspect waited inside the family's flat to kill him after murdering his parents and younger sister.

Italian police are searching nationwide for the suspect, identified as Bangladeshi national Shahadat Hossain.

Authorities have released his photograph and appealed to the public for information leading to his arrest.

Citing investigators, Italian newspaper Il Messaggero reported that survivor Amir Hossain Ayan told police he had argued with Shahadat a week ago.

Detectives are still trying to determine the motive behind the killings.

Ayan's father Kamal Uddin Babul, 39, mother Arju Akter, 38, and 5-year-old sister Arowa Islam Arisha were found stabbed to death in their apartment in Rome's Casalotti neighbourhood on Friday night.

Ayan, 20, was critically injured in the attack.

Doctors said he underwent surgery for skull injuries and internal bleeding and remains under close observation.

According to relatives, Babul's family home in Noakhali’s Companiganj received a threatening letter a year ago.

Ayan told investigators he returned home from work on Friday to find Shahadat inside the flat.

At first, he suspected nothing, as Shahadat had allegedly concealed the bodies and cleaned bloodstains from the flat.

He said he realised something was wrong after spotting his younger sister's foot protruding from under his parents' bed.

At that moment, Shahadat allegedly attacked him with a sharp weapon.

Despite his injuries, Ayan managed to escape from the flat and alerted neighbours.

"He killed my entire family. When I returned home, I found him there. He was waiting to kill me too. We had an argument last week," Ayan told investigators.

He also claimed his father had wanted to distance Shahadat from the Bangladeshi community, which had led to tensions between them.

According to Il Messaggero, investigators are also examining whether a personal or romantic dispute may have been a motive, although no official conclusion has yet been reached.