The children, aged one and four, were found at the mother’s home in the village of Sainte-Rose.

The woman, in her forties, was found to be mentally unstable and transferred to a psychiatric hospital, prosecutor Caroline Calbo said.

Police have opened an investigation into suspected double murder, she added.

A source close to the probe said that the woman’s husband called police before dawn after discovering the bodies of the children.

Local radio channel RCI Guadeloupe said the father was in shock.

The source said that the mother had been incoherent and unable to explain what had happened.

cre-tll-tbm/ah/tgb/bc

© Agence France-Presse