http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/20/world/asia/cairns-australia-children-killed.html 2014-12-19 12:45:03 8 Children Found Dead in Home in Australia Their bodies were discovered in a house in Manoora, a suburb of Cairns, and a woman believed to be their mother was seriously injured. === SYDNEY, Australia — The state police in Queensland were investigating the discovery on Friday of eight dead children in a suburb of Cairns. Officers were called around 11:20 a.m. to a house in Manoora, where they found the bodies of the children, ranging in age from about 18 months to 15 years, along with a seriously injured woman. She is believed to be the mother of the children and had been stabbed, “This is a tragic, tragic event,” Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar told reporters at the scene. He said the woman, 34, was hospitalized in stable condition and was helping the police with their investigation. She had not been charged. A spokeswoman for the police said no further details were available. Prime Minister Tony Abbott described the news as heartbreaking. “All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened,” he said in a statement. “These are trying days for our country.” On Monday