Australian man arrested over children’s deaths in ‘horrific’ house fire

Sydney:

Australian authorities have accused a Sydney father of trying to stop rescuers from saving his own family in a “horrific” house fire that killed two boys and a girl.

Flames engulfed the house in Lalor Park in Sydney’s west in the early hours of Sunday morning while the 28-year-old man, his partner and seven children were inside, New South Wales state police said.

Three children – two boys aged three and six and a 10-month-old girl – were killed.

The other four children, ages four to 11, and their 29-year-old mother were being treated in hospital for injuries related to the fire, but all were expected to recover, police said.

“This is a horrific and senseless act that has rightly outraged the entire state,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said on Monday.

“These children deserved a loving home with safety and security, and instead they went missing.”

Police said the three deaths were being investigated as domestic multiple homicides.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described domestic violence in Australia as a “national crisis” following a rise in the number of violent deaths of women this year and a series of high-profile attacks.

State police said the 28-year-old man was arrested after allegedly “thwarting” police efforts to enter the burning building.

He was in a medically induced coma while being treated in hospital under police escort, they said.

“It appears the 28-year-old man is responsible for multiple deaths,” state homicide squad commander Danny Doherty told reporters on Sunday.

The suspect allegedly acted with “the intention of keeping the children inside the premises while the fire was happening,” he said.

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