A mother has been charged with attempted murder after she and her three children were found with stab wounds at a home in North-West Sydney about 5.15am today.
Emergency services found a 10-year-old, a 13-year-old, orth-West a 16-year-old, and a 47-year-old woman, all with stab wounds.
The 16-year-old, who is believed to use a wheelchair, was stabbed once and had a number of lacerations.
The 47-year-old woman, who police say is the mother of the children, had three stab wounds to the abdomen which officers believe were self-inflicted.
They were all treated at the scene and taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Just after 9pm, police announced the woman had been charged with three counts of wound with attempt to murder after an alleged domestic violence-related incident.
She was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court tomorrow.
Neighbours described their horror after waking to police swarming their normally quiet street and said the incident left them rattled.
“They’re quite a lovely, decent family who keeps to themselves,” one neighbour told 9News.
Detective Superintendent Naomi Moore said the mother has no record of mental health issues.
There is also no record of domestic violence history at the home.
“That family home is really not known to police if I’m honest with you,” Moore said today.
“A relatively normal family, if I can say to you, this is probably completely unexpected.”
Moore told reporters this morning that a fifth person, believed to be the father of the children, secured a household knife allegedly used in the stabbings and contacted police.
“We believe the father was in the home at the time,” Moore said.
“We believe the father and the children were all in their rooms and potentially all of them asleep when the mother has carried out this act.
“Upon waking up to what I would believe to be a number of screams or yells, he has then gone to approach the situation and from what I am told, has secured the weapon and he has contacted police.”
All three children were believed to be in their rooms when the alleged stabbing took place.
The 47-year-old woman was earlier said to be undergoing treatment in hospital.
It is understood police are not looking for any other person.
The children are expected to make a full recovery.
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
