Family members break silence after headline is released (6)

I believe the answer is:

nieces

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'family members' is the definition.
(I know this)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for nieces that I've seen before include "Young female relatives" , "They're related" , "They're family" , "Scene I set up for relatives" , "Relatives of 27dn" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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