‘Tragedy’ as family of seven shot dead in Australia

A FAMILY of seven, including four children, have been found dead with gunshot wounds at a rural property in south-west Australia in what could be the country’s worst mass shooting in 22 years.

The children died with their mother and grandparents.

The three generations had moved to Osmington, a village of fewer than 700 people near the tourist town of Margaret River, in 2015 to grow fruit, media reported.

Police would not comment on the possibility of murder-suicide, but they are not looking for a suspect.

After being alerted by a phone call before dawn, police found the bodies and two guns at the property, Western Australia State Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said. Police would not say who made the call.

The bodies of two adults were found outside the house and the rest were found inside. They all lived at the property, he said.

Police have no information to raise concerns about wider public safety, suggesting a gunman is not at large.

“Police are currently responding to what I can only describe as a horrific incident,” Mr Dawson told reporters.

“This devastating tragedy will no doubt have a lasting impact on the whole community and, in particular, the local communities in our southwest,” he added.

Police were attempting to make contact with victims’ relatives, Mr Dawson said.

Philip Alpers, a Sydney University gun policy analyst, said the tragedy appeared to be the worst mass shooting in Australia since a lone gunman killed 35 in Tasmania state in 1996, prompting the nation to introduce tough gun controls.