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- Eight victims aged 15 months to 15 years discovered in Cairns home
- Bodies reportedly found by 20-year-old brother
- 34-year-old woman suffering chest wound helping police with inquiries
- ‘Extremely distressing’ scene greeted first-response officers
- Prime Minister Tony Abbott describes the news as ‘heartbreaking’
QUEENSLAND Police have confirmed that eight children have been found dead at a home in Cairns.
Reports suggest they were killed in a mass stabbing with the victims eight children ranging in age from 18 months to 15 years.
Emergency crews were called to the address on Murray Street in Manoora at 11.20am.
A huge crowd has gathered outside the Manoora St house. Picture. Marc McCormack Source: News Corp Australia
Police expect the crime scene to be active for at least the next 24 hours. Source: News Corp Australia
Police have been comforting distraught friends and relatives. Source: News Corp Australia
Hearing the tragic news, the cousin to the mother of the eight stabbed children has arrived at the scene.
The 34-year-old’s cousin, Lisa Thaiday, told AAP at the scene that the children were all siblings.
The woman was their mother, she said.
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Ms Thaiday said another sibling, a 20-year-old man, arrived home to find his brothers and sisters dead inside the house.
He is now being comforted by other family members.
Distraught friends and relatives have rushed to the house in Murray St where eight children were found dead. Source: News Corp Australia
“I’m going to see him now, he needs comforting,†Ms Thaiday said.
She described the family and extended relatives as close-knit. “We’re a big family and most of us are from the (Torres) Strait,†she said.
“I just can’t believe it. We just found out (about) those poor babies.â€
About 20 to 30 people, including neighbours and locals, could be seen to be visibly upset and comforting each other at the scene.
Cairns Regional Crime Co-ordinator Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said the woman is not presently in custody and is helping police with their inquiries.
Cousin Lisa Thaiday says the woman helping police with their inquiries is the children’s mother. Picture: Sky News Source: Supplied
A woman on a stretcher being wheeled out of the Cairns home where eight children have been found stabbed to death. Picture: Channel 7 Source: Channel 7
Police have not confirmed the relationship between the woman and the children.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has issued a statement addressing the shocking incident.
“The news out of Cairns is heartbreaking,†said Mr Abbott. “All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened.
“This is an unspeakable crime.
“These are 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.â€
Police at the scene of the shocking mass killing in Cairns. Picture: Channel 7 Source: Channel 7
A man in the front yard of the Manoora home. Picture: Channel 7 Source: Channel 7
Cairns MP Gavin King told the ABC counselling is being offered to families and friends of those affected.
“I’ve spoken to local police and various state agencies and our immediate priority is to ensure that appropriate support and counselling is in place for very near neighbours and of course any family and friends that are directly impacted,†he said.
Mr King says news of the tragedy is still filtering through the close-knit community.
“I think the community of Cairns that I am a part of is really just in complete and utter shock at what is a tragedy of a scale we have certainly never seen before in our community,†he said.
Police comfort a woman near the Manoora house where up to eight victims have reportedly been stabbed to death. Picture: AAP Source: AAP
Police at work at the Cairns crime scene. Picture: Channel 7 Source: Channel 7
Police entering the crime scene. Source: News Corp Australia
“It’s a street that I visit regularly, residents I speak to regularly live on that street and it’s really a sense of community shock.â€
A couple who had lived around the corner for 18 months said they didn’t feel safe in the area and it was not uncommon to hear fighting and drinking at night.
“It’s pretty scary. Oh my God,†the man, who did not want to be named, told AAP.
Specialist police officers were travelling from Brisbane to assist with the investigation, Det Insp Asnicar said.
“We are missing nothing as far as conducting this investigation,†he said.
The shocking incident has caused widespread distress. Source: News Corp Australia
The house in Manoora St. Source: Supplied
Police on the scene of a major incident in the Cairns suburb of Manoora. Source: Supplied
“This is not a small job, we’re not taking this lightly at all ... we’ll cover every angle before this is finished.â€
The incident was a tragic event, but there was no need for the public to be concerned about their safety, he said.
More than a dozen police vehicles and the region’s most senior detective inspectors are reportedly on site.
The street has been cordoned off and a crime scene will remain in place for at least the next day, Det Insp Asnicar told reporters at the scene.
It was an “extremely distressing†scene for the first-response officers, he said.
A crime scene has been set up with a mobile police facility established and officers from the Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch, Child Protection and Investigation Unit, Scenes of Crime and Scientific section are conducting an investigation and examination of the scene.
Manoora is described as being in a struggling area of Cairns and Manoora St is a well-known crime hotspot.
More to follow