SYDNEY, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Two people were found dead at a property in the Australian state of Queensland following a prolonged police siege on Wednesday night.
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) said in a statement that officers were called to reports of a serious assault in the remote town of Charleville, 680 km west of Brisbane, around 6 p.m. on Wednesday and subsequently made a public safety preservation declaration, ordering nearby residents to stay indoors.
Specialist officers attended the scene and, following an extended siege, located a 45-year-old man and 23-year-old woman deceased inside the property in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Local media reported that the incident is being treated by police as a suspected murder-suicide.
No police officers or members of the public were injured.
Shaun Radnedge, the mayor for the local area, said in a statement that it was a heartbreaking day for the community.
"This tragedy will be felt deeply across our small community. I know many people will be struggling to come to terms with what has happened," he said.
The QPS internal Ethical Standards Command has commenced an investigation into the incident. ■