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Two of the murdered children. Image Credit: Supplied

Manama: Police in Saudi Arabia are looking for the reasons that pushed a Saudi man to kill his wife and four children.

The multiple murders in Sharurah, a small town in the southern part of the kingdom, occurred on Monday evening at around 11.30pm, local Arabic daily Okaz reported.

Reports said that the murderer decapitated his wife, 26, after stabbing her with a knife. He then killed his three sons, aged between five and 11, and his two-year-old daughter. The killer is reportedly suffering from mental health problems.

Witnesses said he often mumbled incomprehensibly and that he was abusive and strict with his children.

They said his behaviour worsened in recent days.

On the day of the tragedy, he brought one of his children from the home of his former wife and killed him.