PORTLAND (AP) – A Portland woman accused of repeatedly stabbing her 11-year-old daughter as part of an apparent religious ritual was arrested Monday on a charge of aggravated assault.

The girl, who was bleeding on the sidewalk outside the family’s State Street apartment when police arrived at the scene, was listed in guarded condition at Maine Medical Center.

The mother, Paula Tarbox, 40, was being held in the Cumberland County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail. Police said the woman was a domestic abuse victim and has a history of mental illness.

Three other children, ages 16, 5 and 2, were in the apartment at the time of the stabbing, police said.

Officers said the 16-year-old girl fought to protect her younger siblings, wrestling at least two knives from her mother during the attack.

Chief Michael Chitwood said the stabbing appeared to part of a religious ritual.

“The evidence indicates this was prepared, a Bible open, passages highlighted,” he said.

Child advocates were seeking foster homes for Tarbox’s children.

AP-ES-07-05-04 1725EDT