Four children and three adults have been found dead at a rural property in Western Australia.
‘Police are currently responding to what I can only describe as an horrific incident in Osmington, 20km north-east of Margaret River. It is early in this investigation,’ WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson told a police press conference on Friday.
‘Based on what we do know, this is clearly a tragedy. At about 5.15am this morning, police were called to a rural property on the outskirts of this property at Margaret River.
‘Upon arrival, police located seven persons deceased. Four children and three adults. The bodies of two adults were located outside, five bodies were located inside a building on the rural property.
‘Two firearms have been located at the scene. We are trying to locate other members of the family and friends. I’m not in a position to release any further details about the identities of the deceased.
‘This devastating tragedy will no doubt have a lasting impact on the families concerned, the whole community and, in particular, the local communities in our south-west,’ the commissioner continued.
Homicide Squad detectives from Perth are assisting local police in investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.
‘They will be supported by other specialist police units. A police chaplain is in attendance to provide support toall persons, officers and others that are impacted by what has happened,’ the commissioner said.
‘As I’m sure you’d appreciate it, it’s not appropriate for me to speculate on any further matters. I can only say at this point in time, we have no information to raise concern about wider public safety issues at this point in time.
‘We will provide an update later today as this investigation continues. I will take questions but, as I’ve said, there’s little more that I can add at this point in time.’
‘This is an horrific tragedy for any person involved and clearly officers and other first responders attending these sorts of scenes is very tragic,’ the commissioner said.
‘We have support with police chaplains and other counsellors will also be in attendance. We’ll get on with our job but regrettably, these tragedies do take their toll on everyone.’
The police received a phone call shortly before their attendance at the scene, the commissioner confirmed.
‘I’m not going to release any details at this point in time. It’s far too early for me to confirm about that. We’ll let the investigation run its course. The reason police went to the property was from a telephone call which we’ve recorded,’ he said.
‘I’m not going to release any details about the call. Not prepared to confirm about the identity of any of the deceased persons at this point in time. We’ll still trying to locate next of kin.
‘They appear to be residents of the property but, again, I’m not going to confirm the identities because we’re still trying to locate family.
‘It’s a rural property. Five persons deceased. The four children and one adult and two adults located deceased not far away from the building.’
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
