Australian police (file)
Australian police (file)Reuters

Australia has been hit by tragedy for the second time this week, as eight children were stabbed to death on Friday and a 34-year-old woman who apparently is their mother also suffered stab wounds in the northeastern city of Cairns, located in Queensland.

Queensland police said they were called to a home on Murray Street in the Cairns suburb of Manoora, and "during an examination of the residence police located the bodies of the children, all aged between 18 months and 15 years."

The mother suffered stab wounds to the chest, with Det. Insp. Bruno Asnicar saying she is receiving treatment in hospital and is in stable condition. Apparently she is providing information to aid the search for the murderer.

"As it stands at the moment, there’s no need for the public to be concerned about this other than the fact that it’s a tragic, tragic event," Asnicar said. "The situation is well controlled."

Lisa Thaiday, who said she was the woman’s cousin, said the eight children were all siblings and the woman was their mother. She added that another 20-year-old sibling discovered his brothers and sisters dead inside the home.

"I’m going to see him now, he needs comforting," Thaiday said. "We’re a big family...I just can’t believe it. We just found out (about) those poor babies."

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott released a statement saying "the news out of Cairns is heartbreaking. All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened. This is an unspeakable crime. These are trying days for our country."

On Monday an Islamist terrorist who a month earlier pledged loyalty to Islamic State (ISIS) took more than a dozen hostages in a Sydney cafe, eventually murdering two of them before being killed as police stormed the site.