Father Charged with Murder After Sydney House Fire Kills Three Children

Australian police have charged a 28-year-old father with murder after a tragic house fire in Sydney’s west killed three children, including a five-month-old girl. According to police, the man allegedly started the fire while his partner and her seven children were inside. He reportedly locked the doors, preventing them from escaping.

The man, who has not been named, is under police guard in the hospital. He faces charges including three counts of murder, five counts of attempted murder, and intentionally endangering life by destroying property. The case is being treated as a domestic-related homicide, described by police as one of the worst instances of a parent allegedly killing their own children in recent history in New South Wales.

Emergency services responded to the fire in Lalor Park, about 35 km west of Sydney’s center, early on Sunday morning. Two boys aged two and six, and a five-month-old girl lost their lives in the fire. The victims have yet to be formally identified. A 29-year-old woman and five other children were hospitalized, with the woman later discharged and the children reported to be in stable condition.