Mass stabbing claims lives of 8 children in Australia

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Eight children have been found dead at a house in Cairns in northern Queensland, say Australian police.

Police said a 34-year-old woman had been taken to hospital with stab wounds but was stable.

The details of the incident and the woman's relationship to the children, aged between 18 months and 15 years, are not yet clear.

Australian reports say the children were stabbed but police have not confirmed this.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a statement it was an "unspeakable crime", and that all parents would feel "gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened".

The house in the Manoora suburb has been cordoned off and detectives are searching the yard.

Police have said it was a "tragic event" but there was no cause for public concern.

They have not made any arrests, but said the injured woman was assisting with their investigations.

The BBC's Jon Donnison in Sydney says it appears police are not looking for any suspects.

Police comfort a woman outside the house in Cairns (19 Dec 2014)

Police have been comforting shocked local residents outside the house

The Australian Associated Press news agency quoted a woman as saying she was the injured woman's cousin and that the children were siblings.

Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar told reporters he could not confirm whether the children were from the same family.

He said police currently believed there were eight children involved but "that may go up or down" as the house was searched.

"These events are extremely distressing for everyone, of course, and police officers aren't immune to that, we're human beings as well," he said.

AAP reporter Cleo Lane at the scene told the BBC residents were standing in the street in shock.

Queensland Police said in a statement earlier that they were called to a residence in Murray Street at 11.20 local time (01:20 GMT) following reports of a woman with serious injuries.

"During an examination of the residence police located the bodies of the children, all aged between 18 months and 15 years," said the statement.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said he was "deeply saddened and shocked" by the events.

"Indeed, the whole Cairns community and the people of Queensland will feel the effects of this tragedy, particularly at a time of year when families come together."

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