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Eight children from same family killed in mass stabbing in Cairns Eight children stabbed to death in Cairns
(35 minutes later)
Eight children from one family, some as young as 18 months old, have been found stabbed to death at a home in Cairns in Queensland’s far north. One of Australia’s worst mass murders, leaving eight children from the same family dead, has left the city of Cairns in shock.
Emergency services were called to the Murray Street house in the Cairns suburb of Manoora at 11.20am local time on Friday, on reports a 34-year-old woman was seriously injured. The grim discovery of the bodies of children aged 18 months to 15 years was reportedly made by their adult brother at their home in Manoora, in the north Queensland city’s west.
They found the bodies of eight children, aged between 18 months and 15 years, inside the house. The mother of seven of the children, 34, is being treated for stab wounds to the chest and police say she is “assisting with enquiries” but declined to confirm she was a suspect.
The injured woman is the mother of seven of the eight children. Her cousin, Lisa Thaiday, told AAP the alarm was raised by a 20-year-old man, who is the brother of the eight children. He had reportedly returned home to find his brothers and sisters dead in their house. Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar – who moved early to reassure the public that there were no concerns for anyone else’s safety – said it was “very, very early days but she’s in a stable condition”.
The far north regional crime co-ordinator, Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar, said the woman was helping police with their inquiries but was not in police custody. Police were called to the house, which is located around a clutch of low cost, publicly owned housing on Murray St in Manoora, around 11.20 am on Friday.
But he said the public had nothing to fear from the incident. Lisa Thaiday, who said she was the woman’s cousin, said it was a 20-year-old sibling who raised the alarm after finding his brothers and sister dead.
“As it stands at the moment there’s no need for the public to be concerned, other than it’s a tragic, tragic incident,” Asnicar said. The ABC reported that relatives of the children had made their way to the house, in turn speaking to police and breaking down in tears in “very confronting scenes”.
He said it was too early to say what had happened in the house, and would not comment on eyewitness reports that a man had been seen standing in the front yard of the house earlier that day. The crime scene remained locked down with detectives, child protection officers and forensic experts expected to work through Friday night.
Addressing the media at the scene at 1.30pm local time, Asnicar said forensic officers were examining the Murray Street house, an operation he said could take “several days”. Police have not publicly detailed the children’s manner of death but one source indicated to Guardian Australia that reports of stabbing were correct.
He had not yet been inside, but had been briefed on the number of victims. Asnicar said it was among the most serious incidents he had encountered in his career, saying the scene was “very distressing” for officers but they would be “missing nothing as far as conducting this investigation”.
“I can tell you that at this stage I believe there’s eight. As I told you at this stage the scene is locked down, that could go up or down,” he said. It was the second high profile tragedy to strike the national psyche in days, with many across the country still reeling from a dramatic siege in Sydney which left three dead.
Asnicar said police who first responded to the incident were distressed but acted professionally. Queensland premier Campbell Newman said he was “deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic events in Cairns today”.
“These events are extremely distressing for everyone, of course, and police officers aren’t immune to that, we’re human beings as well. But the police we have here are very highly trained and professional ... “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.
“This will be done to the nth degree and we will cover every angle.” “My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those concerned.”
Tony Abbott said the incident in Cairns was “heartbreaking” and an “unspeakable crime”. Newman said he was also concerned about the impact on emergency workers and police at the scene and directed ministers to “make sure those individuals are receiving the support they need”.
“All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened,” the prime minister said. Prime minister Tony Abbott said the incident in Cairns was “heartbreaking” and an “unspeakable crime”.
“All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened,” he said.
Abbott said these were “trying days for our country”.Abbott said these were “trying days for our country”.
“Tonight, there will be tears and prayers across our country for these children. My thoughts are with the Queensland Police and all who have to respond to this terrible situation.” “Tonight, there will be tears and prayers across our country for these children. My thoughts are with the Queensland police and all who have to respond to this terrible situation.”
Officers from the Cairns criminal investigation branch and the child protection and investigation unit set up a mobile facility at the scene. Officers from the Cairns criminal investigation branch, the child protection and investigation unit and scenes of crime have set up a mobile facility at the scene.
A Murray Street resident, Stephen Lillingstone, told Guardian Australia the incident had occurred on a section of the street that was almost exclusively publicly owned housing. A Murray Street resident, Stephen Lillingstone, told Guardian Australia the incident had occurred on a section of the street that was “a bit rowdy”.
“That area where it is is a bit rowdy,” he said. “You get your flare-ups and everything.” “You get your flare-ups and everything,” he said.