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Mother arrested over Australia child stabbings

December 19, 2014

The 37-year-old mother of seven of the eight children found dead in a mass stabbing in Australia's northern city of Cairns has been arrested for murder. The woman had been receiving treatment for stab wounds.

https://p.dw.com/p/1E7qT
Cairns, Australia
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/G. Bint

Queensland Police Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said on Saturday that the woman was currently under guard at a nearby hospital.

The eight children, who were aged between aged 18 months and 15 years old, were found dead on Friday after police responded to reports of a woman in her 30s with serious injuries.

Asnicar did not said how the children died, but confirmed that they were examining several knives in the woman's home which may have been used to kill the children.

The woman was also found in the home with the children, suffering from stab wounds to the chest.

Speaking on Friday, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott described the childrens' deaths as "heartbreaking."

"All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened," he said in a statement. "This is an unspeakable crime. Tonight, there will be tears and prayers across our country for these children."

The incident was the second tragedy to hit Australia in a week. On Monday, a gunman took 18 people hostage in a central Sydney cafe. Two hostages and the gunman were killed when police stormed the cafe in an attempt to end the 16-hour siege.

ksb/bw (Reuters, AP)