By Perry Duffin
Two primary school-aged boys are dead and a woman is in custody, leaving the small NSW town of Coonabarabran reeling in the wake of a “terrible tragedy”.
Officers were dispatched to the home in the Central West town just after 2pm on Monday, following “a concern for welfare”, NSW Police said in a statement.
The grandmother had contacted Department of Communities and Justice and told them the children were dead, police sources not permitted to speak publicly told the Herald.
Frontline responders, both NSW Police and ambulance officers, were met with a confronting scene.
“Upon arrival, police officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District located two boys – aged six and seven – deceased inside the home,” NSW Police said.
Their ages were initially reported by police as eight and 10.
The children’s grandmother, 66, was taken into custody and driven to a nearby hospital.
At this stage, she has not been charged with any offence and is “assisting police” with an investigation into the deaths.
She remains under police guard in hospital.
“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,” NSW Premier Chris Minns told the Herald.
“I cannot begin to imagine the heartbreak their loved ones are currently feeling, including their family, friends and teachers.
“I thank the local officers who attended the scene for their professionalism and bravery in the face of such a horrible event.”
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said in a statement the events were a “terrible, terrible tragedy”.
“The NSW Police will support the town of Coonabarabran in this horrific time,” Webb said.
The homicide squad has been dispatched from Sydney to help local police.
“Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District are now investigating the circumstances of the deaths under Strike Force Darnum, assisted by detectives from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad,” a police statement said.
Local MP Roy Butler told the Herald it is a tight-knit town.
“There are no words, no words you can give,” Butler said.
“The loss of children in any community is tragic, but in circumstances where it may not be an accident, it is all the more tragic.
“This is a loss of life that didn’t need to happen.”
Butler said everyone in the town, which has a population of less than 2400, either knows one other, or knows of one other.
“No one is nameless, no one is faceless,” he said.
“There will be whole school communities devastated by this terrible news.”
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