A mother and her three young children have been found dead at a home in Melbourne’s northwest.
A 48-year-old man, who police understand to be the husband and father of the deceased, is assisting homicide detectives.
Police were called to a home in Burgess Street, Tullamarine early on Thursday afternoon, where they found the woman, 42, and the children – two girls aged seven and five, and a boy aged three.
Police say there is no ongoing threat to the community and they do not believe there are other parties involved.
“We understand the three children were siblings,” Victoria Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill told reporters.
“We also understand the three children were that of the female that was found deceased. We also understand the male was the husband of the deceased female, and the father of the three children.”
There is no history of family violence involving the family.
Mr Hill said it was important not to jump to any conclusions about the incident, which would have a lasting impact on the local community.
“It is a tragic event to lose life, in any circumstances. But when it involves three children – the second event that’s occurred this week where we’ve seen the loss of children in horrific circumstances – it does impact upon the community,” he said.
The incident comes days after the deaths of a woman and three children following a house fire in the south-eastern suburb of Glen Waverly on the weekend.
