By Anadolu staff
ANKARA (AA) - At least three children were killed in a fatal house fire in Australia's New South Wales state on Sunday, local media reported.
Police arrested the father of the deceased children aged between 10 months and four years for trying to stop emergency services from rescuing the children from the burning home, Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Police said two boys, aged two and four, were treated by paramedics and taken to the hospital in western Sydney in a critical condition, but died a short time later.
Firefighters put out the fire before the third child, believed to be a 10-month-old girl, was found dead at the scene.
"I can confirm during police attempts to get into the property, those efforts were frustrated by a male inside," NSW Police Acting Superintendent Jason Pietruszka was quoted as saying.
The deceased's father is in an induced coma and being treated for burns and smoke inhalation.
The mother, as well as four other children aged between six to 11 years, were also taken to hospital and were expected to recover.
Pietruszka said the incident was being investigated as a domestic violence related offence.