Police cordon tape in a street of a small town in Sicily, Italy
The stabbing happened in the Italian town of Cianciana (Picture: Getty Images)

A man stabbed his wife and two children before barricading himself inside their home in Italy.

The 35-year-old attacked his family earlier today in the town of Cianciana, in the Sicilian province of Agrigento. 

It is understood that he stabbed his son and daughter, and their mother, several times, Sky reported.

The seven-year-old boy suffered multiple blows to the abdomen and is now in a serious condition.

He was transported by an air ambulance to a hospital in Palermo where he has since undergone two surgeries, one to treat injuries on his lung and heart, and a second one on the brain.

His sister, who is a little older than him, was also rushed there. She was stabbed to the face multiple times and her condition is also considered ‘serious’.

Their mother also suffered stab wounds but her condition is not life-threatening.

The attacker hid inside their house near Piazza Bellini, while police tried to detain him.

Local media reported that the violence began during an argument between the couple.

Despite her injuries, the woman managed to free herself and escape down the stairs with her son in her arms before fleeing outside.

Her daughter remained inside the house with her father. It was only after hours of negotiations with police that he handed her over.

The man is yet to be identified by police but he has been identified locally as Daniele Alba.

He handed himself to police after several hours.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE : Teenager from London known as ‘God’s influencer’ to become first millennial saint

MORE : Dad arrested after one-year-old boy is found dead in playground

MORE : Three people killed in a gun fight in a café