Police have given an update after a newborn baby was found dead inside an M&S bag outside a church in west London.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Met appealed to the mother of the child to come forward, saying it is ‘vitally important you get medical assistance and support’.
Superintendent Owen Renowden said he could now confirm the baby found outside All Saints Church in Notting Hill was a newborn boy.
He added that the gruesome discovery was made by a council refuse worker just before 1pm yesterday afternoon, who immediately contacted police.
Tributes have since 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 on Wednesday morning, 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.’
Metropolitan Police Superintendent Owen Renowden speaking to the media outside All Saints’ Church in Notting Hill this morning
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
Tributes left outside All Saints’ Church in Notting Hill, west London, where a baby’s body was found in a bag on Tuesday
Officers were called at 12:46pm yesterday to All Saints Church on Talbot Road in the Notting Hill area where the body was found.
The London Ambulance Service also rushed to the scene, but tragically the baby was declared dead at the scene.
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.
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
‘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.