Australian authorities have accused a Sydney father of trying to stop rescuers from saving his family after a “horrific” house fire killed two boys and a girl.
NSW Police said a house in Lalor Park, western Sydney, was engulfed in flames in the early hours of Sunday morning, with a 28-year-old man, his female partner and seven children inside.
Three children died: two boys, aged 3 and 6, and a 10-month-old girl.
Four other children, aged between four and 11, and their 29-year-old mother are being treated in hospital for injuries sustained in the fire, but all are expected to recover, police said.
“This was a horrific and senseless act which has understandably outraged everyone across our state,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said on Monday.
“These children should have been in a safe, secure, loving home, but instead they have been taken away.”
Police said the three deaths are being investigated as a domestic violence multiple homicide.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described domestic violence in Australia as a “national crisis” after a sharp rise in the number of violent deaths of women this year and a series of high-profile attacks.
State police said a 28-year-old man was arrested for “obstructing” police attempts to enter the burning building.
He said he was in an artificially induced coma while undergoing treatment at a hospital under police guard.
“It appears that a 28-year-old man is responsible for multiple deaths,” State Homicide Unit Commander Danny Dougherty told reporters on Sunday.
The suspect allegedly acted with the “intent of keeping the children inside the building during the fire.”
