This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/report-8-children-stabbed-to-death-in-australia/2014/12/18/3877216d-5e45-4fc4-a149-eef0b06f85ec_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| 8 children found stabbed to death in Australia home | 8 children found stabbed to death in Australia home |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| This post has been updated. | This post has been updated. |
| Eight children have been found stabbed to death near the town of Cairns in for northeastern Australia, according to Australian Broadcasting and other news outlets. A 34-year-old woman suffering from chest and neck wounds was also taken to a hospital from the home and is cooperating with police. | Eight children have been found stabbed to death near the town of Cairns in for northeastern Australia, according to Australian Broadcasting and other news outlets. A 34-year-old woman suffering from chest and neck wounds was also taken to a hospital from the home and is cooperating with police. |
| Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said that police believe the woman is the mother of seven of the children and that the last child is also a relative. So far, no information is available from authorities about the circumstances of the crime, and police say they have no formal suspect. | Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said that police believe the woman is the mother of seven of the children and that the last child is also a relative. So far, no information is available from authorities about the circumstances of the crime, and police say they have no formal suspect. |
| The ages of the children found Friday reportedly range from 18 months to 15 years, all discovered in the same home at about 11:20 a.m. local time. Detectives were waiting for forensics technicians to complete their work inside the house before entering. | |
| Shocked residents of the town kept vigil during the night as a steady stream of people brought flowers to the scene. | Shocked residents of the town kept vigil during the night as a steady stream of people brought flowers to the scene. |
| Bessie Mareko, a neighbor, told Australian Broadcasting that she saw the woman and a number of children at 2 a.m. cleaning up their home and putting unwanted items on the street. “I’m really shocked. I just saw her this morning on the veranda with her kids,” she told the network. | |
| The deaths were called one of the worst single-family killings in Australia. The news stunned the nation, which is still mourning two people killed earlier this week in a hostage siege in Sydney carried out by Iranian-born gunman Man Haron Monis. | The deaths were called one of the worst single-family killings in Australia. The news stunned the nation, which is still mourning two people killed earlier this week in a hostage siege in Sydney carried out by Iranian-born gunman Man Haron Monis. |
| Asnicar told reporters late Friday that “as it stands at the moment, there’s no need for the public to be concerned about this other than the fact that it’s a tragic, tragic event. … The situation is well controlled at the moment.” | Asnicar told reporters late Friday that “as it stands at the moment, there’s no need for the public to be concerned about this other than the fact that it’s a tragic, tragic event. … The situation is well controlled at the moment.” |
| Cairns, once a mining town, is a popular destination for tourists exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Its population is about 200,000. | Cairns, once a mining town, is a popular destination for tourists exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Its population is about 200,000. |
| According to the Australian, the woman’s cousin Lisa Thaiday said that a 20-year old relative discovered the bodies in the house. The tragedy came as a shock to he big, tight knit family, the paper reported. | According to the Australian, the woman’s cousin Lisa Thaiday said that a 20-year old relative discovered the bodies in the house. The tragedy came as a shock to he big, tight knit family, the paper reported. |
| “We’re a big family and most of us are from the (Torres) Strait,” she told the Australian. “I just can’t believe it … those poor babies.” | “We’re a big family and most of us are from the (Torres) Strait,” she told the Australian. “I just can’t believe it … those poor babies.” |
| ABC reported interviewing a man named Larry Woosup, who said he was a relative of the home’s occupants. | ABC reported interviewing a man named Larry Woosup, who said he was a relative of the home’s occupants. |
| “I’m desperate like everyone else to hear” what happened, he said. “We just had that thing down in Sydney there and it’s the end of the year and it’s a family thing, Christmas and New Year and you get this sort of thing happening.” | “I’m desperate like everyone else to hear” what happened, he said. “We just had that thing down in Sydney there and it’s the end of the year and it’s a family thing, Christmas and New Year and you get this sort of thing happening.” |
| Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a statement that the events are “heartbreaking and all parents would feel a gut-wrench sadness at what has happened.” | Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a statement that the events are “heartbreaking and all parents would feel a gut-wrench sadness at what has happened.” |
| “These are trying days for our country,” he added. | “These are trying days for our country,” he added. |