EIGHT children aged between 18 months and 15 have been murdered in a gruesome scene at a Manoora home, according to Cairns Police.
Police were called to the house in Murray Street about 11.20am following reports of a woman with serious injuries.
During an examination, police found the bodies of the children, all aged between 18 months and 15 years.
A 34-year-old woman, believed to be the children’s mother is receiving treatment for her injuries and is assisting police with their investigations.
A crime scene set up around Murray Street.
A police source told The Australian the woman has stabbed the children and then herself in a suicide attempt, although that report has not been otherwise confirmed.
The mother has been arrested but not yet charged.
A Mobile Police Facility has been established, and officers from the Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch, Child Protection and Investigation Unit, Scenes of Crime and Scientific section are investigating at the scene.
Neighbours said the children lived there with their stepfather, according to news.com.au. The ABC reports the family had more than eight children, but that some of the children were elsewhere at the time.
Detectives are searching through the home and its backyard, The Cairns Post reported.
Manoora is a suburb of of the far north Queensland city of Cairns, and is about four kilometres from the central business district.
The incident is not believed to be terrorism-related.
More to come…
Source: QLD Police