Five bludgeoned in Sydney attack

Five people have been found bludgeoned to death at a house in the Australian city of Sydney, police say.

The group - thought to be a couple, their two children and a female relative - were found on Saturday morning by a relative.

Police said they were killed by blows to the upper body and head with a blunt instrument.

They said it appeared the group, who lived in the suburb of North Epping, were the victims of a targeted attack.

Homicide squad Detective Superintendent Geoff Beresford said a number of possible motives were being explored.

"At this stage it appears that this particular murder does not bear the hallmarks of a typical home invasion," ABC news quoted him as saying.

"Whilst we can't totally rule out robbery, robbery does not seem to be an issue in this case," he said.

He said no link had been established to a recent armed robbery witnessed by the father.