UPDATE: The 37 year-old woman identified as the mother of 7 of the 8 children found dead has been arrested over the deaths of the children in the Cairns home.
The woman, taken to hospital on Friday with stab wounds, is under guard at a Cairns hospital.
The children were aged between 18 months and 15 years, police have confirmed.
Police went to the property at 11.20am on Friday morning after reports of a woman with serious injuries.
Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said reporters the incident was “extremely distressing”.
Police have established a crime scene in the area and have blocked off the street.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has issued a statement, describing the event as “an unspeakable crime”.
“All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened,” he said.
“These are trying days for our country. Tonight, there will be tears and prayers for these children.”
The incident has shocked the community. A local businesswoman told 9news,
“There’s been a lot of traffic, a lot of ambulance and police,”
“We’re all pretty sombre about it all. We’re feeling not real flash … school holidays just started for most of them.”
The Department of Communities will send a team to Cairns to “deal with the human and social recovery”, Fairfax Media have reported.
Anyone who has concerns should contact Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.
