Grandmother Facing 'Serious Charges' After Her Grandsons, Aged 6 and 7, Were Found Dead in Alleged Double Murder Case: Reports

• A grandmother in Australia is likely facing “serious charges” police have said, after her two young grandsons were found dead at a property in the town of Coonabarabran, according to reports
• The boys, aged 6 and 7, were found deceased after New South Wales police responded following a welfare check, per an initial news release
• The woman, who reportedly self-harmed, is currently at a mental health facility, according to local media outlet 9 News

A grandmother in Australia will likely face “serious charges” after her grandsons, aged 6 and 7, were found dead, according to reports.

On Monday, May 5, New South Wales officers “attended a home on Emu Lane, Coonabarabran, following reports of a concern for welfare,” police said in an initial news release.

“Upon arrival, police officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District located two boys – aged 6 and 7 – deceased inside the home,” the release said.

“The woman – aged 66 – was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for further assessment where she remains under hospital guard,” police added, per the release.

The younger child was found in a front bedroom of the property, the Sydney Morning Herald reported, while the body of the 7-year-old was found in another bedroom, citing NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland, who spoke to reporters on Tuesday, May 6. The outlet reported that one of the boys had been diagnosed with cancer.

The grandmother had reportedly self-harmed, the outlet reported. According to 9 News Australia, citing Holland, the suspect was initially taken to Dubbo Hospital and has since been transferred to a mental health facility in Orange.

“Upon release, she will be handed back to police custody where it is likely she will face serious charges,” Holland told reporters, per the Sydney Morning Herald, stating that it could be days or weeks before she’s released.

Holland said police have been treating the incident as an alleged double murder, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.

“It’s a confronting tragedy that should not have occurred,” the officer said, per the outlet. “These things shock small country towns … The death of one child is bad enough, the death of two is just incomprehensible.”

ABC reported that the boys’ grandmother was their sole carer, adding that they had moved to Coonabarabran around 11 months ago from the NSW Central Coast. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the boys had been living with their grandmother after the state removed them from their parents’ care several years ago.

“The biological parents have been advised, along with the other set of grandparents,” Holland told reporters, per ABC.

“Anyone confronted with the death of one child – let alone two – in these sorts of circumstances would be struggling,” he added, per ABC.

“It was a very confronting situation for the young police officers involved,” Holland said of the officers who discovered the two boys, per 9 News Australia, adding that one is back at work, but the second is “not doing well.”

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Police previously said that the woman allegedly called the Department of Communities and Justice and told them the children were dead, the Sydney Morning Herald reported, citing anonymous police sources. 

NSW Premier Chris Minns told the Sydney Morning Herald of the tragedy, “What has occurred is terrible, and as a state we share in the community of Coonabarabran’s grief at the loss of two young boys who had their entire futures ahead of them.”

“I cannot begin to imagine the heartbreak their loved ones are currently feeling, including their family, friends and teachers,” Minns added, per the outlet.

“I thank the local officers who attended the scene for their professionalism and bravery in the face of such a horrible event,” he shared.

NSW Police had no additional updates to add at this stage when contacted by PEOPLE on Tuesday, May 6.