Four children abducted in Queensland as police search for man

Four children are believed to have been abducted. Photo / Supplied, Queensland Police

Four children have been abducted from a property in central Queensland by a man "known to them" overnight.

Police issued an amber alert on Thursday evening after the children - aged 8, 7, 4 and 3 - were taken from the home near Mackay.

Police believe they could be "at significant risk".

They were snatched near The Leap by Joshua Carter, 28, at around 11.30am, police said.

The children are all white, slim and have brown hair.

Police have issued an amber alert after four young children were snatched from a home near Mackay. Photo / Supplied, Queensland Police

A white man with a solid build was seen taking the children and leaving in a white 2005 Nissan Patrol 4WD with the number plate 063BC9, police said.

He is about 175cm tall with a shaved head and large beard.

UPDATE 1: Amber Alert, Four children taken from The Leap (north of Mackay) https://t.co/6Qa0vDjikY pic.twitter.com/HrBlEJlaE1

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) August 11, 2022

The man has several tattoos on his neck, face and body. Several make reference to the Joker from Batman, including the words "Why so serious?" inked across his right cheek.

Police allege 28-year-old Joshua Carter, who has several distinctive Joker-themed tattoos, took the kids on Thursday night. Photo / Queensland Police

They could be traveling in this car. Photo / Queensland Police

The car was last seen heading towards the Bruce Highway in Mackay.