7 killed in Australia mass shooting

Seven people, including four children, were shot dead in a suspected mass murder-suicide near Margaret River, in south-west Western Australia on Friday.

Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson confirmed the mass shooting attack and said that the bodies of four children and three adults were found near a house at Osmington town when they received a distress call at around 5:15 am (local time).

"Police are currently responding to what I can only describe as a horrific incident in Osmington, 20 km northeast of Margaret River. The bodies found there had gunshot wounds," he said.

The deceased, Katrina Miles and her four children, aged eight to 13 were found at the crime scene. The shooter is absconding and an investigation has been launched to identify the motive of the attack.

According to media reports, Miles was home-schooling her three boys and her daughter at their farm when the shooting occurred.

Osmington is a small rural town, which is three hours south of Perth, the capital of Western Australia.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan condemned the attack, describing it as "tragic and shocking."

"My thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims, and also with the first responders and investigators as they piece together this tragic set of circumstances," he wrote on Twitter.

Australia has a tough gun control law, where they have banned weapons of all types and a restrictive system of licensing and ownership controls.