German police in the western city of Saarbrücken have opened a criminal investigation after a three-year-old girl died, and her mother and one-year-old sister were injured when they plunged from a building walkway, authorities said on Friday.

A spokesman said on Friday.

Falk Hasenberg told dpa that murder and attempted murder were suspected, with the 38-year-old mother as the suspect.

The mother was seriously injured in the fall from a height of around five metres, while the second daughter was largely unhurt.

The woman is thought to have thrown her daughters off the parapet late on Thursday before jumping herself.

The three-year-old died in hospital due to injuries.

Police believe the children were too small to be able to climb over the parapet’s railing on their own.

Mr Hasenberg said there were indications that the mother suffered from psychological problems.

He described the scene as a walkway secured with metal railings linking the upper floor of an apartment building to a garden.

The victims fell onto a hard surface.

The incident was first reported at about 9:00 p.m. (1900 GMT), when the father, the mother’s parents and other relatives were in the home.

Police questioned all those present. 

(dpa/NAN)