One child has died and two others remain in critical condition after a stabbing in Valley Heights in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.
Members of the public found the three children and a woman with stab wounds inside a vehicle on Waratah Road shortly before 1pm on Sunday.
Witnesses gave first aid to the children while waiting for emergency services. Paramedics treated all three before taking them by road to Westmead Hospital and Westmead Children’s Hospital, where they underwent surgery.
The children were all under five years old. Their father had been at work when police contacted him to tell him what had happened.
“You can imagine receiving that tragic news,” Superintendent John Nelson told reporters, saying the wider family had not yet been notified.
The woman, who was believed to be in her 40s, had not previously come to the attention of police. Investigators were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
Homicide investigators and local officers remained at the scene on Sunday afternoon, while part of Waratah Road was closed. Police said the weapon used and the circumstances surrounding the stabbing formed part of the ongoing investigation.
Superintendent Nelson praised members of the public who intervened, describing them as “upstanding” and acknowledging the trauma of encountering the scene.
“People are just going about a lovely Sunday afternoon and being confronted with this is traumatic and tragic for anybody,” he said.
He also said officers involved would have access to support, describing their response as professional in difficult circumstances.
Blue Mountains councillor Darren Rodrigo described the incident as “absolutely horrendous and tragic”, offering condolences to the family and thanking community members and first responders for their assistance.
Anyone with information about the stabbing or footage of the attack was urged to contact police.
