Eight Children Stabbed To Death In Cairns

Eight children have been found stabbed to
death at a house in Cairns, Australia.
The children are reportedly aged between 18
months and 15 years.
Police were called to a property in the suburb
of Manoora following reports of a woman with
serious injuries.
During the search of the house the bodies of
the children were discovered.
The 34-year-old woman, reportedly the
children's mother, has received treatment for
her wounds.
She is said to be in a stable condition at a
hospital where she is being questioned by
police.
Queensland Police Detective Inspector Bruno
Asnicar said: "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."
He said detectives had not yet determined the
relationship between all of the children and
the woman.
But Lisa Thaiday, who said she was the woman's
cousin, said the children were all siblings and
that the woman was their mother.
Ms Thaiday said another sibling, a 20-year-old
man, came home and found his brothers and
sisters dead inside the house.
She said. "We're a big family... I just can't
believe it."

Cairns Post reporter Scott Forbes, at the scene,
told Sky News: "I've spoken to some of the
family members and they say the woman, who is
the biological mother, actually has more
children but the other kids weren't at home at
the time so of the children she does have eight
of them are now dead.
"Many of the people here are actually
connected to the family or relatives of the
family. They are very shocked. They said they
were a happy family and were enthusiastic
about Christmas.
"They've said she was a very proud mother who
was very protective of her children, so
everyone lining the streets here is reeling
right now."
The street is in lock down and a crime scene
will remain in place for at least another day,
police said.

Cairns MP Michael Trout told Sky News the
close-knit community was in shock over the
"dreadful tragedy".
"How can anyone harm innocent children is on
everyone's lips at this moment," he said.
The deaths come as Australia is still feeling
the shock of the deadly siege in a Sydney cafe
earlier this week.
Police stormed the building early on Tuesday
morning to end a 16-hour hostage standoff in
which three people were killed, including the
hostage-taker.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott called
the events in Cairns "heartbreaking" and
acknowledged that these were "trying days"
for Australia.