The man was charged with killing his three children and their mother, his defence counsel Asser Gregersen confirmed during preliminary hearings at Frederiksberg Court on Tuesday, reports news agency Ritzau.

Wearing a blue sweatshirt and jeans, the man declined to answer any further questions, reports Ritzau.

The murders took place at 7:30 am on Tuesday and both a gun and a knife were used, it was confirmed at the hearing.

A routine patrol was sent to the apartment where Police found the victims on Tuesday morning in response to a report of domestic violence, reports daily Ekstra Bladet.

Deputy inspector and leader of the investigation Ove Bundgård Larsen told the newspaper that police were meet by a “terrible scene” on entering the apartment.

The eldest of the three children was born in 2002 and the youngest in 2013.

The court agreed to a request by prosecutor Stine Winther that an injunction be taken against publication of the names of the suspect and victims, and that the preliminary hearing take place behind closed doors, reports Ritzau.

“This is a quite terrible family tragedy. It [releasing the names, ed.] would expose those close to the victims to an unnecessary intrusion,” she said.

Ritzau reports that there was then commotion between the suspect, who shouted in a language native to Afghanistan, and a number of attendees in the court room, before the room was emptied.

The suspect was held back by police, according to the report.

In addition to murder, the man is also charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Gregersen told Ekstra Bladet that the man would answer questions “at a later time”.

“It is a family tragedy, and everyone is upset. He is shattered and in shock… He did not want to answer questions today because he is in shock and feels that he would be unable to answer sufficiently. He is too likely to break down at the moment,” Gregersen said.

The man will be remanded in custody in a closed psychiatric unit for the next four weeks.