POLICE formally identified the eight children who died in a Cairns home on Friday.

Four girls, aged 14, 12, 11 and two and four boys, aged nine, eight, six and five were killed in the Murray St house early Friday.

The 37-year-old woman arrested over their murder, Mersane Warrina, is the mother of the youngest seven.

The eldest child was her niece.

TRIBUTES FLOW FOR YOUNG VICTIMS

Cairns Police Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said five fathers were distraught by the news of the deaths of their children.

“I don’t think anybody would imagine any reaction other than absolute devastation to be told that your child is dead and of course that was the case,” Det Insp Asnicar said.

“The family, even under these horrific circumstances and the trauma they have been through, the support the family has been giving us in this investigation has been outstanding.”

Ms Warrina remains under police guard at Cairns Hospital.

“Every minute we have a better understanding of what went on in that house,” Det Insp Asnicar said.

“She will be under police guard until this investigation is completed.”

media_camera Devastated residents watch as police attend the Murray St house in Cairns. Picture: STEWART MCLEAN

MORE ON THE CAIRNS TRAGEDY...

TRIBUTES GROW FOR YOUNG VICTIMS

SUPPORT FOR GRIEVING COMMUNITY

FAMILY MEMBERS REELING WITH SHOCK

One of the grief-stricken fathers has spoken about his shock as he tries to make sense of his daughter’s death, on what should have been her 14th birthday.

“I’ve lost a beautiful daughter,” the elderly man, who asked not to be named said.

“What for? What has she done?”

He says tears streamed down his face when he and his wife were told their girl was one of eight children found murdered at a house on Murray St in the Cairns suburb of Manoora on Friday morning.

media_camera Mersane Warria of Manoora, who has now been charged over the children’s deaths.

Mersane Warria was mother of the other seven children, who were aged between 18 months and 14 years.

The children’s bodies were found by her 20-year-old son on Friday.

The father said on Saturday his daughter had been staying with the woman, the girl’s aunt, in the Murray St house for about a week.

“(The son) told us that everyone is dead,” he said.

“I said ‘how come you are telling me this’.

“And I was crying and (my wife) was crying, everybody was crying.”

He last saw his daughter the night before she died at a local McDonald’s restaurant where she was eating dinner with friends.

“I said come with me but she said: ‘Oh no dad, I’m going with my friends, my aunty,’” he told AAP.

media_camera Shocked neighbours. Picture: MARC MCCORMACK

The man said he and his wife were now searching for answers.

“What happened?” he said.

“Do you know what happened? Me and my wife we want to know.”

He was shocked by news the aunt may be responsible.

The man said his daughter had spent many weekends and holidays at the house and there had never been problems.

He said Warria had recently decided to turn her life around and was again attending church.

He said his daughter loved her friends, school and reading.

“When I dropped her at the house a week ago, everyone was happy,” he said.

“The last time I saw her she kissed me. She said she loved me and she asked for $100, which I said I’d give to her on Saturday morning on her birthday.

“My daughter, she was beautiful.”

EARLIER: Acting Premier Tim Nichols flew to Cairns to join community leaders as part of an outpouring of community support for the Murray St victims.

Mr Nichols said they were upping community services available throughout Cairns’ western suburbs for several weeks.

He said he had been briefed by the Department of Communities in relation to services, but would not comment on any involvement the family may have had with the department in the lead up to Friday’s incident.

“It’s a matter for the police to gather information in relation to the house and the family here,” he said.

“I’m certainly not in a position here to speculate on those matters.

“That will be no doubt something that will be explored by police in the days ahead.”

He joined with senior police and local politicians in laying flowers at the base of a tree beside the home.

media_camera A 37-year-old has been arrested for murder after the deaths of eight children were found dead in their Manoora home on Friday, December 19.

Cultural community liaison Yodie Batzke also spoke out calling on indigenous groups around the country to respect cultural protocols in the aftermath.

“Family and friends, if they can just respect the cultural protocols in this grieving time and if we could just hold back on some of the comments and photos on social media to allow our community to grieve,” he said.

“You’ve got to remember that Cairns has been affected, but also three cultural groups.”

She said in particular cultural groups in Brisbane, Rockhampton and Cairns had been affected by the tragedy.

“If we can just give the family some time to grieve,” she said.

“We’re not too sure when everything will come to an end for them, but we want to respect their wishes.”

media_camera Scene of a multiple stabbing in Murray St, Manoora. Picture: STEWART MCLEAN

media_camera The backyard of the house where eight children were found dead. Picture: BRIAN CASSEY

media_camera The Manoora St home. Picture: BRIAN CASSEY

media_camera The scene of a multiple stabbing in Murray St, Manoora. State Emergency Service (SES) personnel arrive at the scene and assist police in the operation. Picture: STEWART MCLEAN

media_camera Floral tributes have been left near the scene. Picture: STEWART MCLEAN

SATURDAY MORNING: THE bodies of eight dead children have been removed from the Manoora house and autopsies will be done today as the investigation into their murder continues.

Police confirmed early this morning that mother of seven of the children Mersane Warria, also known as Raina Thaiday, has been arrested and is under police guard at Cairns Hospital.

She was taken to the hospital yesterday morning after being found outside the Murray St house with stab wounds.

The children are aged between 18 months and 14 with one of them being Ms Warria’s niece who had been visiting the family at the time.

Det Insp Bruno Asnicar said Ms Warria had spoken with police.

“At the current time she’s awake and lucid and able to speak,” he said.

She was arrested overnight, but he said it was unknown when charges would be laid.

He confirmed a number of knives had been seized by forensic experts and would be examined.

“We’ve located a number of weapons,” he said.

“At some stage we’ll be able to determine when we have the weapon that was used.”

media_camera In tribute to the eight victims. Picture: BRENDAN RADKE

IN TRIBUTE:

Floral tributes placed across the road from the house continue to grow with candles, teddy bears and even Christmas toys placed against the fence line.

Community members continue to hover in the park beside the house, which has been surrounded with tarps and police equipment.

Inside, Det Insp Asnicar said forensic officers were now working to piece together the series of events that unfolded yesterday.

They are expected to be there for at least the next two days.

“They’re looking for DNA, they’re looking for mapping of the scene to establish what occurred,” he said.

“They’re looking for a time chronology, they’re looking for the order of actions which occurred, they’re looking for any trace evidence which is in the residence itself, they’re looking for blood spatter patterns.”

He confirmed there had been no other arrests, but police were still speaking with multiple people including family members to get more information.

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NEIGHBOURS ROCKED BY TRAGEDY

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BOB MANNING ISSUES STATEMENT

NEIGHBOURS HEARD SCREAMING

THE STREET BEHIND THE HORRORS

PM AND PREMIER MAKE STATEMENTS

LIVE BLOG: EIGHT CHILDREN DEAD

media_camera Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar holds a press conference at the scene yesterday. Picture: STEWART MCLEAN.

EARLIER: “DON’T let them take them away from us. God bless us. Forgive me for what I’ll do.”

These were the pleading screams of a woman heard by neighbours at 9pm on Thursday.

At 11:20am the next day, a young man, a 20-year-old brother of the family, walked into a Cairns house to find eight children dead.

Police were called to the Murray St, Manoora home to be confronted by a scene so horrifying that their “screams and shouts” for an ambulance could be heard from the street.

The mother of seven of the children, 37-year old has Mersane Warria, now been arrested over the murder. The eighth victim is believed to be Ms Warria’s niece.

media_camera A candle at the makeshift memorial across the road from the scene of the Manoora tragedy.

FRIDAY: A CANDLELIT vigil is being held in Cairns from 6pm for the eight children stabbed to death in a home at Manoora.

The vigil is at Munroe Martin Park.

Organisers invited the entire Cairns community to light a candle in remembrance.

The eight children, aged between 18 months and 15 years, were reportedly found dead at the scene this morning by their 20-year-old brother.

Dozens of police rushed to the home at 34 Murray St, Manoora, about 11.20am, discovering the dead children and an injured woman, 37.

media_camera Forensic police officers at the scene of the tragedy in Manoora. Picture: Getty Images

Far North Crime Coordinator Det Insp Bruno Asnicar spoke on the tragedy at 4.30pm Friday.

Det Insp Asnicar said the incident was among the most significant he had encountered in his career.

“This is certainly a tragic and traumatic event with so many people deceased in one place.

“And it’s right up there with one of the most serious things that I’ve ever had to deal with,” he said.

He confirmed these details:

— Police believe the 34-year-old woman in hospital is the mother of most of the deceased.

— There are no formal suspects at this time.

— Police have family liaison officers in place to support the families.

— SES in attendance to help manage the crime scene.

— Nobody has been in to the scene except forensic officers.

— None of the children have been formally identified.

— Anyone involved with the family for the past three days will be treated as a person of interest in this case until a suspect has been identified.

— Police would not comment on whether the house was known to them previously for other incidents.

He also confirmed police were this afternoon at the hospital.

When asked if police were talking with a man thought to be a brother of the victims, Det Insp Asnicar said only that police would speak with “everybody”.

“I don’t know if we’ve spoken to him. I don’t know who he is.”

media_camera Acting Chief Superintendent Russell Miller holds a press conference at the scene. Picture: STEWART MCLEAN

A number of specialist officers from Townsville and Brisbane were being flown to Cairns to assist.

“They bring with them a range of skills that we will need to fully investigate the matter,” Acting Chief Superintendent Russell Miller said.

Mr Miller warned social media users against posting unhelpful content that would likely generate unrest.

He said authorities were working on a community recovery plan and the Queensland Police Service was wary of the impact the incident may have on first response officers.

“Some of the police who were on the scene earlier are young junior officers, so we’re providing the support they need to them from within our own systems.”

EARLIER: More forensics officers were just seen moving onto the property behind the tarps that have been set up by the SES to cover the scene of the crime.

No bodies have been seen leaving the premises.

The SES has set up witches hats and are still blocking the East side of Murray St.

Police tape is still blocking the centre of Murray St to traffic.

City Church Cairns will hold a vigil tonight from 7.30pm.

BOB MANNING ISSUES STATEMENT

NEIGHBOURS HEARD SCREAMING

media_camera The house where the tragedy occurred in Manoora.

EARLIER: A neighbour of the Murray St house has described hearing shouting and screaming coming from the residence around 10am.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said she was unsure who the voices belonged to, but did not contact police.

Other neighbours of the family involved in the horrific tragedy have said they were friendly, quiet and kind.

A resident who lives directly behind the house said he had only met the woman and children a few times but had once given them homegrown vegetables after they accidentally threw a ball into his backyard.

media_camera A distressed woman is accompanied by police they attend a house in Murray St. Picture” STEWART MCLEAN

Lorry Birch said they had occasionally held parties but they were not rowdy and he had considered them good neighbours.

Meanwhile SES volunteers have begun erecting tarps around the fence line of the property to obscure the residence from view.

Far North Crime Coordinator Det Insp Bruno Asnicar said police were then called and found the bodies of eight children aged approximately between 18 months and 15 inside.

Police have not confirmed how they were killed.

They have also not confirmed the relationship between the woman and children.

“The crime scene has been locked down including from me,” Det Insp Asnicar said.

“These events are extremely distressing for everyone of course.”

PM AND PREMIER ISSUE STATEMENTS

LIVE BLOG: MANOORA TRAGEDY

media_camera Police attend a house in Murray St, Manoora. Picture: Stewart McLean

Detectives and uniformed police continue to surround the one-storey residence which is beside a park.

Det Insp Asnicar said it was likely the crime scene would operate for several days.

Two adults have been taken to hospital. One is a 34-year-old woman — whom police confirmed to be the mother of seven of the dead children — and who was being treated for stab wounds to the chest and neck.

Police have stated they are not looking for anybody else in relation to the deaths and have yet to lay charges.

The woman is “assisting police with their inquiries” and “not in custody”, police said.

It is not clear whether the second person taken to hospital is the child’s stepfather, who lived at the address.

“It’s very early days but (the woman) is in a stable condition,” he said.

He reassured the community there was no other immediate danger though.

“As it stands at the moment there’s no need for the public to be concerned about this other that it’s a tragic, tragic event,” he said.

“There should be no concern for anyone else out of this environment.”

“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.”

media_camera A distressed woman is accompanied by police they attend a house in Murray St, Manoora, where the children were found. Picture. Stewart McLean

It is understood that police were familiar with the family.

The 37-year-old woman’s cousin told AAP at the scene the children were all siblings.

The woman was their mother, she said.

She said another sibling, a 20-year-old man, arrived home to find his brothers and sisters dead inside the house.

He is now being comforted by other family members.

“I’m going to see him now, he needs comforting,” the woman told AAP.

She described the family and extended relatives as close-knit.

“We’re a big family and most of us are from the (Torres) Strait,” she said.

“I just can’t believe it. We just found out (about) those poor babies.”

media_camera Locals sit on the sidewalk near a house police have blocked off as a crime scene where eight children have been found dead in the Cairns suburb of Manoora. Picture: Graeme Bint

About 20 to 30 people, including neighbours and locals, could be seen to be visibly upset and comforting each other at the scene.

A couple who had lived around the corner for 18 months said they didn’t feel safe in the area and it was not uncommon to hear fighting and drinking at night.

“It’s pretty scary. Oh my God,” the man who did not want to be named told AAP.

Specialist police officers were travelling from Brisbane to assist with the investigation, Det Insp Asnicar said.

“We are missing nothing as far as conducting this investigation,” he said.

“This is not a small job, we’re not taking this lightly at all ... we’ll cover every angle before this is finished.”

media_camera Police on the scene of the crime in Murray St, Manoora.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has described the news as “heartbreaking”.

“All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened,” Mr Abbott said.

“This is an unspeakable crime.

“These are trying days for our country.

“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.”

A Mobile Police Facility has been established and officers from the Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch, Child Protection and Investigation Unit, Scenes of Crime and Scientific section are conducting an investigation and examination of the scene.

Ambulances also remain on scene.