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8 children found stabbed to death in Australia home Woman arrested in stabbing deaths of eight children in Australia
(about 7 hours later)
This post has been updated. Hours after eight children were found stabbed to death in a home in northeastern Australia, police officials said that the mother of seven of the children had been arrested in the killings.
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. According to the Associated Press, Queensland Police Det. Inspector Bruno Asnicar said Saturday morning that the 37-year-old woman was under guard at a hospital in Cairns, Australia. The woman was the aunt of the eighth stabbing victim, the AP reported.
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. Police said they will not be releasing the name of the woman at this stage. She has been arrested for murder but has not been charged.
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. From the AP:
Police haven’t said how the children died. But Asnicar said they’re examining several knives in the home that may have been the weapon used to kill the children. The woman was also found in the home with the children, suffering from stab wounds to the chest. Asnicar says she is lucid and talking to police. Asnicar says the children ranged in age from 18 months to 14 years.
Police haven’t said how the children died. But Asnicar said they’re examining several knives in the home that may have been the weapon used to kill the children.
The woman was also found in the home with the children, suffering from stab wounds to the chest. Asnicar says she is lucid and talking to police.
Asnicar says the children ranged in age from 18 months to 14 years.
The children were found Friday in the home at about 11:20 a.m. local time, officials said. 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. Bessie Mareko, a neighbor, told Australian Broadcasting that she saw the woman and a number of children at 2 a.m. cleaning the 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 the 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 interviewed 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, according to the ABC report. “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.
[This post has been updated.]