A New York Police Department (NYPD) vehicle is seen near the scene of a stabbing incident at a Brooklyn residence, in New York October 27, 2013. Five people died in the incident, according to local media. [Photo/Agencies]

A New York mother and her four young children were stabbed to death overnight in their Brooklyn home, and a man who was at the scene was taken into custody for questioning, the New York Police Department said on Sunday.

Responding to an emergency call on Saturday night, police found the two boys, two girls and their mother with multiple stab wounds at their home in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighborhood.

Three of the children were found dead at the scene. The woman and one of the children were later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

A man at the home was taken into custody and is being questioned by police, who did not confirm his relationship with the victims. He has not been charged.

The victims were identified as William Zhuo, 1, Kevin Zhuo, 5, Amy Zhuo, 7, Linda Zhuo, 9, and Qiao Zhen Li, 37.

Police declined to discuss a possible motive for the killings.