Police have surrounded a house in the Cairns suburb of Manoora where as many as eight children have been stabbed to death.
A YOUNG man has walked into a Cairns house to find eight of his siblings stabbed to death.
Police were called to the Murray St, Manoora home at 11.20am this morning to be confronted by a scene so horrifying that their "screams and shouts" for an ambulance could be heard from the street.
Senior police this afternoon revealed those to arrive were "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
Two adults have been taken to hospital. One is a 34-year-old woman — whom police confirmed to be the mother of seven of the dead children — and who was being treated for stab wounds to the chest and neck.
Neighbours have described her 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 this 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.
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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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