A couple found dead in an AirBnB in Scotland had formed a suicide pact after meeting online, reports claim.
The man and woman, thought to be Dutch, are believed to have come up with the plan during conversations after meeting as strangers.
Police sources said the 28-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, had arranged to meet at Mergie holiday cottages in Rickarton in Aberdeenshire, reports the Daily Record .
The alarm was raised by a cleaner who was unable to access the property before fire crews from Aberdeen were called to the scene after chemicals were found.
According to the Mail Online, the property is listed to rent of AirBnB.
A police source said: “The man and the woman appear to have met online and converged on Stonehaven to carry out their plan.
“Initial inquiries suggest they arranged their plan completely over the internet and decided to meet in Rickarton.
“It’s a tragic situation for their families and friends.”
The source added: “It would appear some sort of chemical was in the cottage, which the fire service assisted with.”
A local resident said: “At first, we all thought someone had been murdered when forensics went in.
“The police have got the cottages cordoned off. The fire service were here too for several hours.”
Police said the deaths are not being treated as suspicious.
A spokesman said: “Police were called to the property at about 1.30pm on Thursday, December 5, after two people, a man aged 28 and a woman aged 24, were found within.
Their next-of-kin have been informed.
“Inquiries remain ongoing and as a result, officers will remain at the property while the investigation continues. A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal in due course.”
Mergie Bothy is a two-bedroom self-catering holiday cottage in the grounds of Mergie Castle Estate – home of the Bogton Clydesdales, one of Scotland’s largest stud farms.
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