Eight children killed in Australia mass stabbing
Eight children from the same family, aged 18 months to 15-years-old, are found murdered in their home in Cairns. A woman who was mother to seven of them has been taken to hospital with stab wounds.
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The 20-year-old brother of the eight children reportedly returned home near midday on Friday, local time, to discover his dead brothers and sisters.
Neighbours heard screaming and loud noises from the house at about 10am, according to local media.
Emergency services were called at 11.20am local time after reports a woman was seriously injured.
This is an unspeakable crime Australian Prime Minister Tony Abott
The 34-year-old mother of the seven of the children is being treated for her injuries in hospital, and is helping police with their inquiries.
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Queensland police have not named any suspects but urged calm, saying there was “no need for the public to be concerned about this, other than it is a tragic, tragic event”.
‘Trying days’
The mother’s cousin, Lisa Thaiday, told AAP the man who arrived home to discover his dead siblings was now with relatives.
Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar told reporters: “The situation is well controlled at the moment and there shouldn’t be any concerns for anyone else.”
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott called the events in Cairns “heartbreaking”, and said these were “trying days” for Australia, with the family stabbing coming just days after a 16-hour siege in Sydney carried out by a lone gunman, in which two hostages were killed .
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“All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened,” Mr Abbott said, reflecting on the Cairns stabbing.
“This is an unspeakable crime. Tonight, there will be tears and prayers across our country for these children.”
The scene has been closed off as forensic investigators inspect the scene.
Australian media reports said the children had been stabbed and suffocated inside the house.
The junior police officers who first attended the scene were reportedly so shaken by the discovery that they are now receiving counselling.
Australian media said the neighbourhood was predominantly inhabited by indigenous Aboriginal Australians, and was known by locals to have a high crime rate.