A relative has told of her horror after the bodies of eight children, believed to be siblings aged between 18 months and 15-years-old, were found dead at a Cairns home following a massacre just six days before Christmas.
A woman, 34, was also rushed to hospital in a critical condition with stab wounds to her chest but was assisting police. Cairns Regional Crime Co-ordinator Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said that the woman was the mother of seven of the dead children with the other child a relation. He described the massacre as a 'tragic and traumatic event'.
Her devastated cousin, Lisa Thaiday, also told reporters the woman was the children's mother.
'I just can't believe it,' she said. 'We just found out [about] those poor babies.'
Scores of detectives, paramedics and forensic officers have swarmed over the home on Murray Street in Manoora, around 4km west of the coastal town's main tourist strip.
Details about what investigators found inside the house has not been revealed but a neighbour said she had been told there were bloody scenes 'everywhere' inside. Officers who arrived first on the scene said it was like 'something out of a horror movie'.
Specialist police officers are now on their way from Brisbane to help with the situation and the crime scene is completely locked down. There are no formal suspects as yet.
'There's not much else we can say, but what we have a range of strategies in place to support the family through this very difficult time,' Detective Inspector Asnicar said.
'It's a tragic and traumatic with so many deceased in one place. It's right up there with some of the most serious things I've ever had to deal with.'
Ms Thaiday said another sibling, a 20-year-old man, arrived home to discover his brothers and sisters dead inside the house.
He is now being consoled by other family members.
'I'm going to see him now, he needs comforting,' Ms Thaiday said. She described the family and extended relatives as close-knit and many live in surrounding suburbs.
'We're a big family and most of us are from the (Torres) Strait,' she said, adding that she rushed to the scene after hearing about the incident on the radio.
The woman at the centre of the Cairns family massacre was ‘happy go lucky and seemed to really love her kids’, Daily Mail Australia has been told.
Robert Struber, who lived for 20 years in the house where the stabbing murders took place said he had spoken with the 34-year-old on several occasions while visiting his former neighbours.
He said the last time he had seen the mother a few months ago she was ‘friendly and happy to chat’ and that she had mainly looked after her large family.
Mr Struber had not met the father of the children.
He said the street had a mixture of Aboriginal families and people from the Torres Strait and Cook Islands. he moved out of the four bedroom house two years ago because it was too large, and said that following the tragedy he ‘never wanted to go back inside it’.
Mr Struber described the 34-year-old woman at the centre of the family massacre as ‘happy go lucky and seemed to really love her kids’. He had spoken with her on several occasions while visiting his former neighbours.
He said she had mainly looked after her large family well. Mr Struber had not met the father of the children.
Rebecca Levers lives six doors down from the family on Murray Street, and like many others she could not understand why this tragedy happened.
‘They moved in about a year ago. They seemed really normal to me, I never heard of any trouble with them,’ she said.
‘It’s heartbreaking knowing there were kids involved, I think it’s a big shock to the community.
‘I’ve been here for seven years and it’s the first time there’s ever been a big crime like this.’
Cairns City Church held a vigil for the victims of the tragedy on Thursday night, with Pastor Michael Dalla Vecchia calling on the people of Cairns to 'stick together as a community'.
The Bishop of Cairns James Foley also issued a statement about the tragedy.
'To say this has been a dreadful week is almost an obscene understatement: the Sydney siege; an 18 year old taken by a shark off Pt. Douglas; the Pakistan school massacre; and on Friday’s 1pm radio news the headline that eight children had been stabbed at a Cairns suburb - Manoora. And all this in the week before Christmas,' the statement said.
'Yet, as we saw in the aftermath of the Sydney siege, the very worst some people can do - may bring out the very best in so many more.'
Police said it would be several hours before forensic officers would be able to complete their work inside the house - while detectives continued inquiries to establish what had led up to the slaughter.
Detectives rushed to the house in Murray Street at about 11.20am on Friday after they received reports a woman had suffered serious injuries.
The street has been branded a crime scene and the area has been locked down. Their home is a rented Housing Commission residence.
Seven News reporter Georgina McKerrow told Sky News a step-father was also believed to be living at the premises.
In a statement released on Friday afternoon, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said: 'This is an unspeakable crime.
'These are trying days for our country,' he said - a clear reference to the Sydney cafe hostage crisis this week where two people were killed. A vigil will tonight be held in the Munro Martin Park at 6pm.
Shocked people have already turned to social media to express their disbelief at the second major tragedy to strike Australia in just a week.
Murray St is located in a community housing-dominated area. The Cairns Post has described the street in the past as 'notorious' for crime and anti-social behaviour.
In July Murray Street was one of four identified by Cairns Regional Council as in need of permanent surveillance by CCTV cameras to ensure the safety of residents.
About 20 to 30 people, including neighbours and locals, could be seen to be visibly upset and comforting each other at the scene.
Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar described the horror crime as a 'tragic, tragic incident'. He could not say whether the children all belonged to the same family.
He told reporters the woman is not in police custody. He said it was not yet clear who had called emergency services and said the situation was 'well contained'.
A specialist team of police are en route from Brisbane, two hours flight south.
In a statement, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said: 'I am deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic events in Cairns today.'
'My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those concerned,' adding that he had asked ministers to ensure emergency services were given the support they need.
'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.'
Mr Newman encouraged Queenslanders who need support to reach out and seek professional assistance if needed.
Dailymail report
JESUSCHRIST!.........God please serve whoever did this judgement on earth now!....i cant help crying..OMGGGGGG.
THEY SHOULD LOOK INSIDE FOR THE KILLER(S)...I PRAY THE MOTHER SURVIVES TO TELL WHAT SHE SAW OR KNOWS!
