Eight kids dead in mass stabbing

Police have surrounded a house in the Cairns suburb of Manoora where as many as eight children have been stabbed to death.

"DON'T let them take them away from us. God bless us. Forgive me for what I'll do."

These were the pleading screams of a woman heard by neighbours at 9pm on Thursday.

At 11:20am the next day, a young man, a 20-year-old brother of the family, walked into a Cairns house to find eight of his siblings dead.

COURIER-MAIL: FOLLOW THE COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE

Police were called to the Murray St, Manoora home to be confronted by a scene so horrifying that their "screams and shouts" for an ambulance could be heard from the street.

Senior police have confirmed to The Courier-Mail that Mersane Warria, also known as Raina Thaiday, is a person of interest in what is being described as one of the worst mass murders in Australia's history.

No charges have been laid.

The crime scene at Murray St, Manoora. Picture: Stewart McLean Source: News Corp Australia

"Devastating, we support you". Flowers line the Murray Street footpath. Source: News Corp Australia

Neighbours comfort each other in Murray Street upon hearing the news. Picture: Brendan Radke Source: News Corp Australia

Picture: Marc McCormack Source: News Corp Australia

Ms Warria, 34, is undergoing a mental health assessment in Cairns hospital, where she was transported after sustaining serious injuries. She suffered stab wounds to the chest and neck.

"She was having a bad night; I heard her fighting with someone this morning about 4am,'' a neighbour, Tahnia Ruttensteiner, said.

Ms Ruttensteiner said she saw Ms Warria "moving stuff out of the house", claiming she was going to "make a new start".

"I last saw her about 6am, then it was quiet.

"She was putting furniture and stuff out the front on the street, giving stuff away to family and friends.

"She said she was changing her life. She wasn't well but she loved those kids."

The home where eight children were killed in Murray St, Cairns. Pic: Brian Cassey Source: News Corp Australia

The backyard of the home where eight children were found stabbed to death today. Pic: Brian Cassey Source: News Corp Australia

A matress and clothing are strewn across the backyard of the Murray Street house. Pic: Brian Cassey Source: News Corp Australia

A closer view of the backyard. Picture: Stewart McLean. Source: News Corp Australia

Authorities revealed the offficers who arrived on the scene "very young and junior officers" who were now receiving counselling.

The victims of what Prime Minister Tony Abbott has this afternoon called "an unspeakable crime" were aged between 18 months and 15 years old and were siblings.

Police help a distressed family friend outside the house. Picture: Sharnie Kim, ABC Source: ABC

Friends and relatives of the family sob outside the Murray St home where eight children have been found dead. Source: Supplied

Neighbours have described Ms Warria as "proud" and "very protective" of her brood, adding "she loved her children dearly".

'EVERYONE KNOWS EVERYONE' ON MURRAY ST, MANOORA

Police have stated they are not looking for anybody else in relation to the deaths and have yet to lay charges.

The woman is "assisting police with their inquiries" and "not in custody", police said.

It is not clear whether the second person taken to hospital is the child's stepfather, who lived at the address.

"It's very early days but (the woman) is in a stable condition," Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said.

A woman believed to be the mother of seven of the eight dead children is taken from the scene in a stretcher with stab wounds to the chest and neck. Picture: Sky News Source: Supplied

An unidentified man shields his face from cameras outside the Murray St home where eight children have been found dead. Source: News Corp Australia

The home where eight children were killed in Murray St, Cairns Source: News Corp Australia

The backyard of the home where eight children were found stabbed to death today. Source: News Corp Australia

Flowers and toys are seen laying up against a fence across the road from the Cairns child massacre. Source: Getty Images

Members of the public arrive to lay flowers across the road from the home where eight children were stabbed. A candlit vigil is to be held tonight. Source: Getty Images

"As it stands at the moment there's no need for the public to be concerned about this other than it's a tragic event. The situation is well controlled at the moment there's no concern for anyone else in the environment.

"The crime scene will continue now for probably the next day or two and as we get further information we will share that with you."

Late yesterday afternoon, at a second media briefing, Det Inspector Asnicar said anyone who had contact with the family over the last two or three days was someone police wanted to speak with.

That included the 20-year-old brother who arrived at the house this morning and a man seen pacing around the property after police were called.

He refused to say exactly what the first officers who arrived at the house saw other than it was traumatic for everyone.

It was one of the worst incidents he'd encountered because of the "number of deceased all in one place".

The community has been urged to "lean on each other and look after your mates" and police have promised to provide locals with additional resources and support.

The cousin of the dead children's mother, Lisa Thaiday, talks to media. Source: Supplied

A man weeps behind a fence near the Murray St home where eight siblings have been found dead. Picture: Sky News Source: Supplied

Lisa Thaiday, who said she was the woman's cousin, said another sibling, a 20-year-old man, came home and found his brothers and sisters dead inside the house.

ABC reporter Sharnie Kim said relatives of the slaughtered children were continuing to make their way to the house. They would speak to the police and then break down, she said.

"There are very confronting scenes here of people crying," Ms Kim said.

"Everyone, the neighbours, the relatives and a large media contingent are just watching and waiting for something to happen."

Police confirmed they were called to the scene at 11.20am but will not say whether it was a family member or a neighbour who alerted them.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the news was heartbreaking.

"All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what's happened."

The tragedy follows the Martin Place siege which traumatised Australians this week.

"These are trying days for our country."

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said he was deeply saddened and shocked by the mass stabbing.

"I ask that all Queenslanders reach out to those who may need support in coming days and do not hesitate to ask for professional assistance if needed," he said.

In particular he asked for support for the police and ambulance officers who were first to arrive at the house.

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning said the community was in shock.

"I offer my personal condolences to the family and friends of the victims."

He to called for people to unite, " and display sympathy for those directly affected by this incident and respect for the police and other authorities who now must go about this difficult work."

A candlit vigil for the dead children would be held tonight.

Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar speaks to media about the stabbing deaths of 8 children in Cairns. Courtesy: Queensland Police

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, told news.com.au he thought the incident was a tragedy.

"I didn't know them (the family) but my heart goes out to them," he said.

Murray St is a diverse multicultural area with a mix of both private and public housing in a western suburb of Cairns.

It has had a stigma in previous years as a place to avoid for people looking to move to the area.

But more recently these suburbs, particularly the northern parts of Manoora, have become more popular with people looking to enter the Cairns property market.

Queensland's Department of Housing and Public Works confirmed the home in which the children were found dead was under its management.

Police at outside the Murray St, Manoora house where eight children have been found dead. Source: News Corp Australia

The first police to arrive on the scene were reportedly so distressed that they could be heard shouting and screaming for an ambulance. Source: News Corp Australia

Relatives and friends have been weeping outside the property where eight children from the same family have been found dead. Source: News Corp Australia

Police say it may take several days for forensic specialists to collect evidence from the house. Source: News Corp Australia

Dozens of police are on the scene at Murray St, Manoora, where eight children aged between 18 months and 15 years have been found dead. Picture: Grace Uhr Source: News Corp Australia

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