A child has died, and two other children and a woman are in a critical condition, after a stabbing in the Blue Mountains.
NSW Police said all the children were under the age of five and the woman was in her 40s, but their identities are yet to be confirmed.
In an update this afternoon, Superintendent John Nelson said the father of the children had been contacted, but police had yet to notify the wider family.
Just before 1pm, members of the public were walking along Waratah Road at Valley Heights, near Springwood, in the Blue Mountains, when they came across the car with four people inside.
Police say one of the children was found dead inside a car. (ABC News)
They contacted police and emergency services, while other bystanders helped out by providing first aid.
One of the children was found dead inside the car.
“Incredibly distressing … the situation for these members of the public to stumble upon,” Superintendent Nelson said.
“Upstanding members of the community trying to do the right thing in a very tragic circumstance.”
The two children and the woman were treated at the scene for stab wounds before being taken to Westmead Hospital and Westmead Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.
They have undergone surgery.
The incident occurred not long before it was reported to police, Superintendent Nelson said.
Police say the woman was not known to authorities. (ABC News)
He said it was too early in the investigation to talk about a motive, the type of weapon used, the extent of their injuries, whether it was domestic violence related or to confirm the nature of the relationship of the four people.
However, he did note that the woman was not known to police.
“People are just going about a lovely Sunday afternoon, to be confronted with this is traumatic and tragic for anybody,” Superintendent Nelson said.
A crime scene has been set up, with police saying they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.
Anyone who was in the area at the time, has information or dashcam video is urged to call police or Crime Stoppers.