Authorities have said that eight children were found stabbed to death in their home in the northern Australian city of Cairns on Friday.
According to ABC, a woman with stab wounds to her chest and neck was also found at the scene and transported to a local hospital. She is believed to be the mother of seven of the children.
The children killed range in age from 18 months to 15.
The Irish Times reported that the surviving victim was providing police with information while she was being treated for her injuries, but they do not have any suspects at this time.
“There is no formal suspect,” said Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar. “We are talking to a range of people. Anybody who has had any involvement in the past two or three days is a person of interest.”
The mass stabbing comes just days after the country was left reeling when two people and a gunman were killed during a hostage situation in a Sydney café.