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Cairns deaths: Eight children found in Australian home Cairns deaths: Eight children found in Australian home
(about 3 hours later)
Eight children have been found dead at a house in Cairns in northern Queensland, say Australian police.Eight children have been found dead at a house in Cairns in northern Queensland, say Australian police.
Police said a 34-year-old woman had been taken to hospital with stab wounds but was stable. Police said a 34-year-old woman who was the mother of at least seven of the children had been taken to hospital with stab wounds but was stable.
The details of the incident and the woman's relationship to the children, aged between 18 months and 15 years, are not yet clear. Police have not confirmed Australian reports that the children, aged between 18 months and 15 years, were stabbed.
Australian reports say the children were stabbed but police have not confirmed this. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a statement it was an "unspeakable crime".
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a statement it was an "unspeakable crime", and that all parents would feel "gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened". He said all parents would feel "gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened".
The house in the Manoora suburb has been cordoned off and detectives are searching the yard.The house in the Manoora suburb has been cordoned off and detectives are searching the yard.
Police have said it was a "tragic event" but there was no cause for public concern.Police have said it was a "tragic event" but there was no cause for public concern.
They have not made any arrests, but said the injured woman was assisting with their investigations.They have not made any arrests, but said the injured woman was assisting with their investigations.
The BBC's Jon Donnison in Sydney says it appears police are not looking for any suspects. Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar confirmed to reporters that the woman was the mother of at least seven of the children, but that formal identification of the bodies had not yet taken place.
The Australian Associated Press news agency quoted a woman as saying she was the injured woman's cousin and that the children were siblings. "We believe the other child is a family member but that is being followed up," he said.
Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar told reporters he could not confirm whether the children were from the same family. He said police could not confirm how the children died until coroners' reports were carried out.
He said police currently believed there were eight children involved but "that may go up or down" as the house was searched. Police are speaking to a range of people, he said, including a man seen near the house earlier in the day, but there are as yet no formal suspects.
"These events are extremely distressing for everyone, of course, and police officers aren't immune to that, we're human beings as well," he said. Specialist police officers were being brought in from Brisbane, he said, including child trauma experts.
AAP reporter Cleo Lane at the scene told the BBC residents were standing in the street in shock.AAP reporter Cleo Lane at the scene told the BBC residents were standing in the street in shock.
Queensland Police said in a statement earlier that they were called to a residence in Murray Street at 11.20 local time (01:20 GMT) following reports of a woman with serious injuries.Queensland Police said in a statement earlier that they were called to a residence in Murray Street at 11.20 local time (01:20 GMT) following reports of a woman with serious injuries.
"During an examination of the residence police located the bodies of the children, all aged between 18 months and 15 years," said the statement."During an examination of the residence police located the bodies of the children, all aged between 18 months and 15 years," said the statement.
Local people have told reporters that the children were found by their elder sibling, a 20-year-old man, when he returned to the house, but police have not confirmed this.
Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said he was "deeply saddened and shocked" by the events.Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said he was "deeply saddened and shocked" by the events.
"Indeed, the whole Cairns community and the people of Queensland will feel the effects of this tragedy, particularly at a time of year when families come together.""Indeed, the whole Cairns community and the people of Queensland will feel the effects of this tragedy, particularly at a time of year when families come together."
The deaths come with Australia still reeling from the siege of a cafe in Sydney which ended on Tuesday morning, with the gunman and two hostages dead.
Several police and governmental investigations are under way into the police operation and how the gunman, Man Haron Monis, was able to carry out the attack.
Mr Abbott said in his statement that these were "trying days for our country".