Missing newborn baby in France may be in Belgium

An infant that was abducted in France is believed to have been taken to Belgium by his parent-kidnappers, according to police.

The blue Audi A6 of the suspected kidnappers of baby Santiago was found in the Charleroi region. However, the Charleroi police were unable to specify the exact location, "as the suspects may flee".

Santiago and his parents, who are the main suspects, have not yet been found.

The 17-day-old Santiago was born prematurely and requires constant care, but his parents took him from the maternity ward of the Robert-Ballenger hospital in Aulnay-sous-Bois, near Paris, on Monday evening.

Any disruption in the baby’s constant care could be fatal. The baby's life expectancy without medical care has been estimated at around just 12 hours, according to a police source.

The abduction took place between 23.00 and 23.30 on Monday, with the hospital alerted by the disconnection of the heart sensors.

“Videosurveillance cameras confirmed that the parents had left with a black shopping bag, possibly in a light-coloured vehicle, with three other individuals on board,” the prosecutor explained.

“The police tried in vain to contact the mother on her telephone, went to the addresses declared by the parents and also tried to contact them through family members.”

The parents are believed to have crossed the Belgian border in a vehicle whose photo and French number plate appeared in the wanted persons notice issued by Child Focus in Belgium.

In France on Tuesday, an abduction alert was in force from around 8.00 to shortly before 19.00. The aim of this procedure is to send out precise information on a massive scale to the public throughout the country, in order to find a child as quickly as possible.

“By decision of the Bobigny public prosecutor's office, the abduction alert has been lifted,” said the French justice ministry on its X account.

“The child has not been found. The search is continuing.”

According to the Bobigny public prosecutor, “the extensive work immediately carried out by the criminal investigation department led to the belief that the couple may have travelled to Belgium with the infant on the night of Monday to Tuesday”.

Santiago has blond hair and was last seen wearing a brown T-shirt and thick white velvet pyjamas. Child Focus does not have any photos of the baby.

The father, aged 23, was last seen wearing dark jeans, a white T-shirt, a light blue denim jacket and a black overcoat. The mother, aged 25, was seen wearing a white jumper, a green skirt and a light blue sleeveless jacket.