Eight children have been stabbed to death at a house in north Queensland, police have confirmed.
Dozens of police have swarmed to the Murray Street property in the Cairns suburb of Manoora following reports of a woman with serious injuries around 11.20am.
Queensland Police stated that police found the bodies of eight children, all aged between 18 months and 15 years.
"The woman, believed to be aged in her 30s, is receiving treatment for her injuries and is currently assisting police with their investigations," a statement read.
Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said police can now confirm that the 34-year-old injured woman in hospital is the mother of the children who died.
He said police cannot confirm the identity of the children, nor can they confirm how the children died until after the postmortems are complete.
"It's certainly a tragedy and traumatic event," he told reporters.
"It's right up there as one of the most serious things I've ever dealth with."
Queensland police are urging parents to keep their children away from the area.
"We don't want to alarm anybody but it's not something we want children exposed to," Superintendent Russell Miller said.
Police are door-knocking on houses in the area, saying anyone who has had involvement with the family in the past three days is a person of interest.
Queensland Police have urged people to refrain from social media speculaton on what happened in the Cairns tragedy, saying police need to be allowed to do their job.
Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said the situation is under control.
"As it stands at the moment, there is no need for the public to be concerned about this, other than it is a tragic, tragic event," he told reporters.
The road has been closed off and police say the scene is likely to remain cordoned off for the next day or two.
"There is no concern for anyone else - there shouldn't be concern for anyone else - out of this environment," Detective Inspector Asnicar said.
A Mobile Police Facility has been established and officers from the Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch, Child Protection and Investigation Unit, Scenes of Crime and Scientific section are conducting an investigation and examination of the scene.
Cairns community in mourning
Medical adviser with the Apunipima Cape York Health Council, Doctor Mark Wenitong has relatives living in Murray Street.
He told Minelle Creed from SBS Living Black Radio it's a significant tragedy for many.
"For the families involved and for this community and for that community at Murray Street as well. I think, you know, staff and relatives that are up here, even in our organisation are still in complete shock, the local community, as you know, my daughter and grand-children live in Murray Street , they're in, absolutely shocked. They are really struggling to deal with something of this magnitude,” he told SBS Living Black Radio.
“It’s doubly tragic because it’s close to Christmas but as we know, sometimes Christmas is a time when there’s more pressure on families but the response to this is going to be very challenging and difficult because, as you know, you can provide some counsellors but at the end of the day our communities will need to take care of each other,” he said.
“The important thing is how we deal with healing and make sure that everybody, even peripherally involved in this, has an opportunity to debrief and to get some counselling and to get some support. Social and emotional support. The group’s in Murray Street particularly, there’s a defined sense of community in that street and this will severely impact on that.”
'Tears and prayers across the country'
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said parents "would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened".
"These are trying days for our country. Tonight, there will be tears and prayers across our country for these children," he said.
Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said he is deeply shocked by the events in Cairns.
"I ask that all Queenslanders reach out to those who need support... and do not hesitate to seek professional assistance," he said in a statement.
Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar vowed the police will turn over all stones in its investigation of the incident.
"These events are extremely distressing for everybody of course and police officers aren't immune from that, we're human beings as well," he said.
"However, the police that we have here are very highly trained and professional people and we're going about it in a way that I would expect them to.
"It is a very professional response...We are missing nothing as far as conducting this investigation.
"This will be done to the nth degree and we will be covering every angle before this is finished."
Family member devastated over deaths
The 34-year-old's cousin told AAP at the scene the children were all siblings.
The woman was their mother, she said.
She said another sibling, a 20-year-old man, arrived home to find his brothers and sisters dead inside the house.
He is now being comforted by other family members.
"I'm going to see him now, he needs comforting," she said.
She described the family and extended relatives as close-knit.
"We're a big family and most of us are from the (Torres) Strait," she said.
"I just can't believe it. We just found out (about) those poor babies."
About 20 to 30 people, including neighbours and locals, could be seen to be visibly upset and comforting each other at the scene.
A couple who had lived around the corner for 18 months said they didn't feel safe in the area and it was not uncommon to hear fighting and drinking at night.
"It's pretty scary. Oh my God," the man who did not want to be named told AAP.
Police are urging members of the public with more information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
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