Suspected Mass Murder in Australia

Multiple bodies were found at a home in Coode Street in Bedford after a man went to a regional Western Australian police station on Sunday morning.

That man, believed to be in his 20s, is now in custody. Police could not confirm exactly how many people had died, but Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Steel said there were “up to” five bodies, ABC News reported.

The exact ages and genders of the victims are unknown but at least one of them was a woman, police said.

Neighbors have told the ABC that young children also lived at the house. The relationship of the victims to the man in custody is also unknown.

Assistant Commissioner Steel said there were “no ongoing safety concerns” at the scene.

He said the investigation was still at a “very early stage,” but described the incident as a tragic event.

“It is tragic not only for the family and the friends, it is also tragic for those first responders who are forced to attend such scenes,” he said.

Steel said officers were still working to determine the timeline of what happened.

“We are three hours into this investigation, I have no further detail in relation to those who are present at the location,” he said.

Police have blocked off traffic around the home and forensic officers are onsite.

Homicide detectives are leading the investigation.