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A child is believed to have died in a house fire in Toowoomba shortly after midnight, with six other people in hospital, some fighting for their lives.
Emergency services arrived at a Merritt Street property in Harristown, Toowoomba, to find the residence “fully engulfed” about 12.30am.
Six people escaped the fire, including two adults in their 30s and four children – one toddler, two primary-school-aged children, and a teenage boy – but police and paramedics said a fifth child was unaccounted for.
Nine News and other media have reported that the child perished.
Three people were taken to Toowoomba Hospital in a life-threatening condition suffering significant burns, including the 36-year-old woman, toddler, and a primary-school-aged girl.
The 34-year-old man suffered arm injuries, and was transported in a potentially life-threatening condition. The teenage boy was also taken to hospital in a stable condition for a hand injury.
Fire crews have extinguished the fire, and police have established a crime scene at the property.
Investigators have urged anyone with information or footage to call Policelink on 13 14 44 or contact Crime Stoppers.
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A coroner is likely to recommend systemic changes after an overworked police force failed to connect a mass killer to the mental health system before his unprovoked attack.
Joel Cauchi, 40, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager and was experiencing psychotic symptoms when he killed six people and injured 10 at Sydney’s Westfield Bondi Junction in April 2024.
During a police call-out to the family home in Toowoomba, Joel Cauchi (right) accused father Andrew (left) of stealing his knife collection.
An inquest has been told Queensland Police had several chances to reconnect him with mental health treatment and medication before the tragedy.
This week’s evidence has focused on one particular incident in January 2023, when Cauchi called police to his family’s Toowoomba home.
He accused his father, Andrew, of stealing his knife collection, telling officers they had to be returned or he would become bankrupt or homeless.
While a follow-up visit to the Cauchi home was requested, the fill-in police mental health incident co-ordinator for the Darling Downs region saw the email but forgot to act on it due to an “oversight”.
Read on for the full story.
The forecast for an overcast week in Brisbane has given way to a much sunnier outlook.
Today the River City is expected to be mostly sunny, after a foggy morning. The chance of a shower is minimal, and the temperature is predicted to reach 27 degrees. Looking further ahead, the weekend is threatening to bring the wet.
Here’s how the next seven days are shaping up.
Here’s what’s making news further afield this morning:
After winning up to a dozen seats in the election, Labor’s left is now poised to gain a key place in the federal ministry, extending its influence in government.
President Donald Trump has backtracked from his pledge to sign trade deals with other countries to reduce or eliminate tariffs, saying he will instead set a price to “shop” in the US, which he compared to a luxury department store.
Pastor Ian Wilkinson has recalled the lunch at Erin Patterson’s home and his fight for survival.Credit: Jason South
As Erin Patterson’s murder trial continues, a pastor who survived being poisoned with mushrooms has recalled the lunch that claimed the lives of three others, and the dramatic fight to save his life.
If you’ve ever applied for a loan or credit card, you’ve probably heard the term “credit score”. But what are they, and do they really matter in Australia?
With a record number of electors and not enough rooms to accommodate them, the Vatican’s highly secretive conclave to choose a new pope is off to a crowded, chaotic start.
And Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg has a new way to invade your privacy: a creepier version of ChatGPT.
Good morning, welcome to Brisbane Times’ live news coverage for Wednesday, May 7. Today the city can expect a mostly sunny day with a top temperature of 27 degrees.
In this morning’s local headlines:
Renee Coffey celebrates winning the Brisbane seat of Griffith for Labor.Credit: Instagram
Who is Renee Coffey, the Labor candidate who ousted the Greens’ Max Chandler-Mather after one term, and what went wrong for her adversary?
A coroner looking into the Bondi Junction massacre is likely to recommend systemic changes after an overworked Queensland police force failed to connect killer Joel Cauchi with the mental health system before his attack.
Nagi Maehashi aka RecipeTin Eats (left) and Brooke Bellamy of Brooki Bakehouse.Credit: Rob Palmer; supplied
Last week, Nagi Maehashi levelled a serious plagiarism allegation against Brisbane celebrity chef Brooke Bellamy, author of the cookbook Bake with Brooki and owner of Brooki Bakehouse in the Valley. “You sense this affair isn’t yet done,” writes David Free today. “For the moment I suggest we call it ‘Pastrygate’, reserving the option to go with ‘Sticky Dategate’ if Brooki is ever accused of plagiarising a pudding.”
Broncos star Ezra Mam is set to make his long-awaited comeback to rugby league after his drug-driving suspension, but what will his return mean for the Broncos?
And leading Wallabies five-eighth contender Tom Lynagh has thrown his support behind James O’Connor earning a shock Test recall, as he shed light on the mentorship role he played that inspired his own career-best form.
