Police investigating the deaths of eight children in Australia have not ruled out a rise in the death toll.
Officers
in the Queensland city of Cairns have also cordoned off the street on
which the bodies were found, and said the crime scene will remain in
place for at least a day.
The bodies were discovered at an address
on Murray Street, a quiet boulevard in the suburb of Manoora. Dozens of
police vehicles are at the scene, as investigators continue to search
the house and garden for clues.
Expert investigators from Queensland's state capital, Brisbane, have been requisitioned to help local officers.
"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," said Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar.
"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."
Asnicar added:
"These events are extremely distressing for everyone of course and
police officers aren't immune from that. We're human beings as well.
"However,
the police that we have here are very highly trained and professional
people and they're going about their job in the way that I would expect
them to."
Authorities have confirmed the victims range from 18 months to 15 years old. Local reports suggest all were siblings.
A
second woman, has now been admitted to hospital, following the earlier
admission of a 34-year-old woman who is thought to be the mother of the
murdered children.
