A three-year-old boy has been found fatally stabbed in a domestic violence incident at a south Sydney home, while a man the ABC understands to be his father has sustained critical injuries.
Police were called to a complex at Riverwood at about 4pm on Wednesday where they found the child inside, dead from stab wounds.
A 45-year-old man he lived with suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital where he has undergone surgery, NSW Police said.
He is now in a stable condition and under police guard.
Superintendent Sheridan Waldau said a woman who lives in the apartment by herself, and who is related to the man, called emergency services.
"Unfortunately, the child's mother passed away a couple of years ago", she said.
"This is obviously a horrific incident."
The policewoman said extended members of the child's family turned up to the crime scene and were "very upset".
Superintendent Waldau said the man had another partner who officers were currently speaking with.
The homicide squad has also been contacted.
Several ambulances and police cars could be seen on the street, which was closed to other traffic
Busses were being diverted away from the area as groups of people gathered on the street outside the unit.
Resident David Chen who lives around the corner from the crime scene said the news was very concerning and would send a "shock wave" through the community.
"It's a close-knit community," he said.
"It's unfortunate to hear [of this] because it is within a community where there is housing as well as residential."
