Police enchantment for mom to come back ahead after new child child boy was discovered useless in M&S bag outdoors church in Notting Hill
Police have urged the mother of a newborn baby boy found dead in a Marks & Spencer bag outside a church in west London to come forward.
A council refuse worker made the tragic discovery after spotting the dumped black bag with avocados on it by All Saints‘ Church in Notting Hill at 12.46pm on Tuesday.
Today, the Met Police‘s superintendent Owen Renowden revealed more heartbreaking details about the incident, including that the infant was a newborn boy.
Floral tributes have been left at the scene on Talbot Road, where the baby was pronounced dead by paramedics.
Superintendent Renowden described the case as ‘shocking and tragic’, but said his priority remains the mother’s ‘welfare and support’.
Speaking to reporters in Notting Hill, he said: ‘I know she will likely be feeling very frightened and going through an extremely difficult time.
‘If you are the baby’s mother and you see this today, I want to appeal directly to you to come forward and receive help.
‘My priority is to help you, to make sure that you can receive medical assistance.’
Tributes left outside All Saints’ Church in Notting Hill, west London, where a baby’s body was found in a bag on Tuesday
Flowers and messages of sympathy lie at the entrance to All Saints Church on March 26
Police officers are seen at the cordon at All Saints Church in Notting Hill on March 26
Metropolitan Police Superintendent Owen Renowden speaking to the media outside All Saints’ Church in Notting Hill this morning
The deputy warden at All Saints’ church in Notting Hill said she had ‘never heard anything like this in my life’ after the discovery.
‘I came here to prepare for the food bank and I just saw loads of police arriving, and when I came out it was all taped over,’ said Marcia Haynes.
Ms Haynes said when she found out a baby had died that ‘it just freaked me out, and I just I had to abandon what I was doing and go home because I thought I was going to be ill, to be honest’.
‘I’ve been here since 1966, I’ve never heard anything like this in my life.’
She said she let two female police officers into the church on Tuesday.
‘Two women officers asked me if they could come in and search the church, and I let them in, and they searched the toilets and all around the church,’ Ms Haynes said.
‘I presume they were looking for the mother in case she was hiding somewhere or something.’
A scaffolder who was working near the scene, who did not wish to be named, said he saw a couple in their late 50s or early 60s near a black grit bin by the church on Tuesday at around 10am.
He said the man appeared to be trying to tie a bag, while the woman said ‘come on’ to him and they left together.
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: ‘Investigating officers are aware of this and inquiries are ongoing.’
A police tent close to where the body of a newborn baby was found today. Police are now urgently appealing for the mother to come forward for her own welfare
A Metropolitan Police Officer close to the church where a dead newborn baby was found
A woman walks past tributes outside the church in Notting Hill where the body of a baby was found
In a statement yesterday, Superintendent Renowden said: ‘This is an extremely sad and shocking matter and officers are working hard to establish the circumstances around what has taken place.
‘This investigation is in the early stages and our immediate priority is to locate the baby’s mother, who we believe may have very recently given birth.
‘If you are the baby’s mother and are reading this, please come forward to police or medical professionals.
‘You must feel very frightened but please let us help – we are really worried about you and it is vitally important you get medical assistance and support.
‘You can walk into any hospital, or a police station.’
Anyone who may have any information about this incident should contact police on 101, quoting reference CAD 3431/25March.
