A couple and their five-year-old daughter from, originally from Companiganj upazila in Noakhali, were stabbed to death by unidentified assailants at their residence in Italy yesterday.

The incident took place around 8:00pm local time at an apartment on Via Montiglio in the Casalotti area on the outskirts of Rome.

The deceased were identified as Kamal Uddin Babul, from Ward No. 5 under Char Kakra Union in Companiganj, his wife Arju Begum, and their five-year-old daughter Aroya Islam Arisha.

Their 20-year-old son, Amir Hossain Ayon, was injured in the attack. He was rescued and admitted to the Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital.

Companiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Nurul Hakim confirmed the incident to The Daily Star this afternoon.

Afnan Hossain Nayeem, a relative of the deceased, said that several assailants entered Babul's apartment around 8:00pm local time and stabbed Babul, his wife and their daughter. While the attack was underway, Babul's son Ayon returned home and discovered what was happening.

As the attackers fled, they also hacked and injured him. Hearing Ayon's screams, neighbours rushed to the scene and took the four to the hospital, where doctors declared Babul, his wife, and daughter dead. Ayon remains hospitalised.

OC Nurul Hakim said police have visited their home in Noakhali after receiving news of the murders.