NEW BERN, N.C. — Three children — ages 1, 5, and 12 — were stabbed to death and two other people were hurt in an attack at a home in eastern North Carolina, police said Wednesday.

An 18-year-old is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and other charges are expected, officials said.

The suspect and victims knew each other but weren’t related, New Bern police Lt. Ronda Allen said. All are Burmese, she said, and a language barrier was affecting the investigation.

Police identified the suspect as Eh Lar Doh Htoo but did not release the names of the victims or any possible motive. Htoo was expected to appear in court in New Bern on Thursday.

Police said they did not know whether he had an attorney yet.

About 11 p.m. Tuesday, officers were called to a report of a person with a knife, Allen said. The officers entered the home and found the dead and injured.