Unspeakable Crime': Eight Children Found Dead in Australia Home

Unspeakable Crime': Eight Children Found Dead in Australia Home, Australian authorities are investigating a disturbing scene after eight dead children and an injured woman, who is the mother of seven of the victims, were found in a Queensland home Friday morning, Queensland police said.

Causes of death for the eight children, who ranged in age from 18 months to 15 years old, were not immediately released but police are treating the home as a crime scene.

Police said they were called to the home in Cairns, which is in the far northeastern section of the country, at 11:20 a.m. Friday local time (8:20 p.m. ET Thursday) on a report of a woman with serious injuries.

When officers arrived, they found an injured 34-year-old woman as well as the dead children. Police released few details Friday because the investigation was in its early stages, but said there was no danger to the community.

"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," Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar told reporters. "The situation is well controlled."

The injured woman is cooperating with investigators and no arrests have been made, Asnicar said. He declined to say whether police suspected anyone of the crime, but said, ""Everybody who's had any involvement at all in the past two or three days is a person of interest."

Lisa Thaiday, who said she was the woman's cousin, told the Associated Press that the children were all siblings and that the woman was their mother. Thaiday said another sibling, a 20-year-old man, came home and found his brothers and sisters dead inside the house.

Police were combing the interior of the home for evidence Friday.

"These events are extremely distressing for everyone of course, and police officers aren't immune from that. We're human beings as well," Asnicar said.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott called news of the crime heartbreaking. "All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened. This is an unspeakable crime," Abbott said in a statement.

The deaths of the eight children come on the heels of a deadly 16-hour hostage situation in Sydney on Monday that shocked the largely peaceful nation and left two hostages and a gunman dead.

"These are trying days for our country," Abbott said. "Tonight, there will be tears and prayers across our country for these children."

"My thoughts are with the Queensland Police and all who have to respond to this terrible situation," he added.